https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/ch ... s-18541668" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;Several members of staff at a Royal Mail sorting office in Chester have tested positive for coronavirus following an outbreak.
Royal Mail confirmed that postal workers at the site on Station Road had contracted the virus, but did not reveal the exact number of infections. Although the office will remain open for operations, bosses said “an intense, enhanced clean of the building” had been arranged.
A spokesperson said:
We continue to enforce strict social distancing measures at the office. As part of this process, we only permit one person per delivery vehicle. We continue to focus on providing a high standard of service to the local community.
Royal Mail has confirmed that seven members of their staff have tested positive for coronavirus at their Chester delivery office.
An outbreak of Covid-19 at the Station Road site was confirmed yesterday (July 3) but it was not know exactly how many workers had contracted the virus.
In the last week, seven people at the Chester Delivery Office tested positive for coronavirus and are all now at home self-isolating.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "Royal Mail takes the health and safety of its colleagues, its customers and the local communities in which we operate very seriously.
"In the last week, seven colleagues at our Chester Delivery Office tested positive for coronavirus.
"They are now at home recuperating and we wish them a speedy recovery.
"During this time, we have carried out three full, enhanced cleans of the building as a precautionary measure.
"We also offered tests to all colleagues who want them.
"In line with Government guidance, colleagues who have tested negative and are not displaying any symptoms are continuing to work as normal.
"We take the advice of health authorities, Government and best practice at all stages."
The delivery office is operating as normal.
"Throughout this crisis, every decision we make puts the health of our people and customers first," added a Royal Mail spokesperson.
"We have put in place a range of preventive measures to protect both our customers and our colleagues.
"We were the first UK company to put in place social-distancing measures in relation to parcel delivery.
"We pioneered contact-free delivery. We are temporarily not handing over our hand-held devices to customers to capture signatures.
"As well as encouraging good hand hygiene, standard ways of working have been revised to ensure that colleagues stay two metres apart at all times.
"All staff have been briefed about the social distancing measures jointly agreed by local management and the CWU. This has been supplemented with visible reminders such as posters and one-way floor markings. In addition we have moved to a one person per van delivery model.”
The Royal Mail outbreak comes after a number of indoor-based workplaces have reported outbreaks of the novel coronavirus.
Public Health Wales are now urgently trying to trace the workers who have been potentially exposed to the virus in order to stop the spread of the disease.
While on Thursday, the Saltney branch of Morrisons confirmed that a staff member was recovering after testing positive this week.
