Royal Mail delivery office hit by coronavirus outbreak after ’19 workers infected’

A Royal Mail delivery office has been hit by a coronavirus outbreak – but frightened staff continue to work “as normal”.

Sources say between 15 and 19 workers have tested positive for the killer infection in Manchester.

And an emergency testing unit has been set up at the delivery office in Oldham Road for staff.

A worker at the office told the Manchester Evening News : “We now have 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the last seven days at the sorting office.”

But according to the Communication Workers Union, the number of positive tests is actually 19.

The worker, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “What is annoying is the way they have decided who can go home and who can’t – we should all be sent home.

“We have been told we will only get sent home if we are contacted by the track and trace system.

“Some members of staff have had calls but a lot of the time there have been people like myself who have spent more time with that infected person, than the ones that have been told to go home.

“Some people are coming from shielding after living like prisoners for months, only for all this to kick off.

“They have been told they have to come in or they don’t get paid and so they are frightened to death. Some thing needs doing about it.”

“After the first confirmed case it took two days for the person’s work area to be cleaned after constant pressure from the staff,”

A Royal Mail spokesperson confirmed there had been several positive tests but the office had undergone an “enhanced clean”.

They added: “Royal Mail takes the health and safety of its colleagues, its customers and the local communities in which we operate very seriously.

“Following positive tests for coronavirus at the Manchester Delivery Office, we have carried out an enhanced clean of the building. Working with our people, we have resolved any areas of concern. All colleagues are working as normal.

“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.”

Director of Public Health for Manchester David Regan said all partners “acted quickly” to “contain and limit further potential spread”.

He told the Sun: “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.”

Mr Regan also said efforts had begun to trace everyone who has had contact with those who tested positive.

He said: “We have been testing staff – and have arranged for a mobile testing unit to go to the site for the rest of the week – and contact tracing is already under way.”

Fresh restrictions are already in place in Manchester as the city grapples with rising infection numbers.

Mancunians are unable to have home or garden gatherings, meet in groups of 30 or socialise with people they don’t live with indoors.

The number of people testing positive for Covid-19 has spiked in Manchester and Tameside, and there’s been a sustained rise in Oldham.