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Royal Mail delivery office hit by coronavirus outbreak

Royal Mail confirmed seven people tested positive for coronavirus at a sorting office in Chester (Picture: Google)
Royal Mail confirmed seven people tested positive for coronavirus at a sorting office in Chester (Picture: Google)

A Royal Mail delivery office has suffered a coronavirus outbreak.

The sorting office in Chester has reported at least seven COVID-19 cases this week.

Bosses confirmed the office was still open but had undergone a deep clean and strict measures were in place to stop the spread of the virus.

All staff members have been offered tests.

Derby, United Kingdom - July, 22th 2011: Postal delivering car of Royal Mail with logo and crown in Derby, England making a stop at traffic light. It is national postal service of the United King. Royal Mail was founded in 1516.
Only one staff member is allowed to travel in a Royal Mail van (Picture: Getty)

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.”

The Royal Mail spokesperson said the company had implemented a number of measures to ensure customers and employees were safe.

These include pioneering contact-free delivery, encouraging good hand hygiene and maintaining a two-metre distance at work.

At the moment only one staff member is allowed to travel in a delivery vehicle.

The spokesperson added: “All staff have been briefed about the social distancing measures jointly agreed by local management and the Communication Workers Union.

“This has been supplemented with visible reminders such as posters and one-way floor markings, and we have moved to a one-person per van delivery model.”

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