Yuantong Express employees sort packages at a logistics center in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province on Feb 18. [Photo/WeChat account: zgntrb]

As of Feb 18, more than 30 out of 130 express delivery companies in Nantong had resumed operations, and were capable of handling over 600,000 packages per day, accounting for 30 percent of the normal capacity, the city's post bureau said.

The Nantong Company of Zhongtong Express is among the first wave of express companies to resume operations, yet few employees were seen at the sorting plant.

"We used to have more than 50 sorters; now there are only 12," said Wang Wei, manager of the company's marketing department.

"We've hired 18 temporary workers to maintain efficiency. However, the packages still cannot be sent on time due to the shortage of delivery workers," Wang added.

Zhongtong Express is not the only to have encountered problems.

According to Zhu Tingyong, general manager of a local branch of Yuantong Express, only 20 percent of his delivery work force has returned to their posts. The others are either stranded in their hometowns or are still under a 14-day quarantine after arriving in Nantong.

"It is not practical to hire temporary workers for delivery, because it will take at least one week to get familiar with the job and routes," Zhu explained.

"Even so, we have been working to ensure essential supplies are delivered in a timely manner," he added.