Postal deliveries face delays as sorting office workers forced into Covid self-isolation

Postal deliveries are being delayed as Covid “chaos” at depots sees scores of staff forced to self-isolate.

Some people have reported not receiving any mail for over a week, with postal service sources telling The Telegraph that whole offices were being taken out by Test and Trace.

The problems stem from postal staff in sorting offices working at close quarters, meaning one infection can lead to dozens of people being told to self-isolate for up to 14 days.

The diminished staff levels come as the postal service also deals with an unprecedented surge in parcel deliveries as people are forced to do their Christmas shopping online in lockdown.

Royal Mail said it was working to restore services in areas hit by staff shortages. The company also said it had hired a record number of festive casual workers – 33,000 – who are due to start later this month and help get through the backlog.

A senior Royal Mail source told The Telegraph that “whole buildings” were being emptied when a postal worker tested positive because staff worked “side by side”, while another said: “It is absolute chaos is the bottom line. It is a complete and utter disaster out there, and the parcel traffic is unbelievable.”

The problem is expected to be exacerbated by a further glut in parcels from this week’s Black Friday sales.

The Communications Workers Union, which represents postal workers, said its members had already had to deal with exceptional circumstances throughout the pandemic.

A spokesman said: “Postal workers across the UK are under tremendous pressure, and we ask the public to take that into account in the coming days and weeks. We are working closely with Royal Mail to ensure that every item gets delivered alongside keeping our members as safe as possible.”

Royal Mail said it was “working hard to get back to providing a normal service as quickly as we can” in affected areas. 

A spokesman said: “Despite our best endeavours, it is possible that some areas of the country may on occasion experience a temporary reduction in service levels due to coronavirus-related absences and necessary social distancing measures at their local mail centre or delivery office.”