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A delivery office worker in Folkestone is “recuperating at home” after testing positive for COVID-19.
Royal Mail confirmed the individual, who works in the town centre’s delivery office, had contracted the disease, which had sparked a deep clean of the premises.
But a spokesman did not confirm if any other postal workers had been in contact with the affected person.
It’s understood the delivery office is still continuing to receive mail, but that there could be a reduction in service levels on occasions.
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A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail takes the health and safety of its colleagues, its customers and the local communities in which we operate very seriously.
“One colleague has tested positive for coronavirus at Folkestone Delivery Office.
“They are now recuperating at home and we wish them a speedy recovery.
“We have carried out an intensive clean of the site and have organised additional cleaning of key touch points and all communal areas.
“We are keeping the CWU and colleagues updated.
“We are working hard to provide the most comprehensive service we are able to.”
Royal Mail also went into detail about the measures it has undertaken to keep everyone safe, including zero contact with customers.
It claims to be the first UK company to put in social distancing measures in relation to parcel delivery in the UK.
The statement continued: “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.
“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 maintain appropriate social distancing 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”.
