Coronavirus outbreak at Royal Mail delivery office leaves thousands without post

An outbreak of coronavirus has closed a Royal Mail delivery office leaving thousands of people without their post.

Several staff members at the centre in Swindon, Wiltshire have tested positive for Covid-19 causing it to cease operations.

This means that up to six postcode areas won’t receive any deliveries until tomorrow at the earliest.

A deep clean has since been carried out at the facility and hundreds of workers were sent home.

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said: “Following a positive test for coronavirus at the Swindon Delivery Office, we have closed the office as a precautionary measure.

“During this time we have carried out an enhanced clean of the building.

“We are working to keep disruption to mail deliveries to a minimum as we address the concerns of our colleagues.

“Throughout this crisis, every decision we make puts the health of our people and customers first.

“We have put in place a range of preventive measures to protect both our customers and our colleagues.

“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 there is only one person permitted in a Royal Mail delivery vehicle at any one time.”