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There is “real fear” at a Wimbledon post office after a number of Covid-19 cases were reportedly confirmed there, a staff member has said.
A worker who told the Wimbledon Times they were employed on the delivery team at the Royal Mail Delivery Office in Wimbledon said that a number of coronavirus cases at the office had left staff fearing they would contract the virus.
Speaking under condition of anonymity, the staff member alleged 10 members of staff at the Wimbledon office had tested positive for Covid-19, forcing many other workers at the office to self-isolate:
“Due to the nature of the job, the person who tested positive on Friday would have handed nearly all the posties either scanning machines or van keys so transmission of covid is very possible but management don’t want to accept this,” they told the Wimbledon Times.
“There are a large number of agency staff being employed but they have no chance in clearing the backlog of work,” they added.
“There is a real fear in the office.”
We’ve seen some people today digging out postal workers due to a delay in mail arriving.
Our members are working their arses off under incredible pressure at an unprecedented time. They deserve better than cheap jibes.
Get behind your local postie ❤️
— The CWU (@CWUnews) January 12, 2021
Responding to a request for comment from the Wimbledon Times, a spokesperson for Royal Mail did not comment directly on the allegations of Covid cases at the office in question but praised the efforts of the company and its employees during coronavirus:
“Across the UK, our people are working hard to deliver as comprehensive a service as possible to all our customers in challenging circumstances.
“Despite our best endeavours, it is possible that some areas of the country may experience a reduction in service levels due to higher volumes of mail during the lockdown, the ongoing impact of COVID-related staff absences and necessary social distancing measures at local mail centres and delivery offices.”
The Post Office confirmed earlier this week a reduction in services in a number of post codes due to the impact of Covid-19 on its workforce.
“Right from the start of this crisis, we have played a key role keeping the country connected. Every single letter and parcel is important to us. Like most organisations, we have a number of employees who are self-isolating in line with government guidance,” the spokesperson continued.
“This has a direct impact on our staffing levels, especially in areas where there are higher levels of local outbreaks. We are working hard to deliver as normal a service as we can, drawing in extra resource and offering additional overtime where possible.
“We remain grateful to all our customers in these areas for their patience and understanding as our dedicated workforce work hard to deliver these exceptional volumes, whilst also adhering to necessary social distancing measures. We always endeavour to keep our customers updated on any changes to our services.
“We have a dedicated section on our website. Throughout the pandemic, every decision we make puts the health of our people and customers first.”
