Three Royal Mail workers test positive for COVID-19 in Blackpool

Royal Mail said all three staff members contracted the virus whilst working at the delivery office in Hawking Place, off Faraday Way, in Bispham.

It said they are recuperating at home and no other staff members have been asked to self-isolate.

Royal Mail said the site has undergone an 'intensive clean' and remains open as normal, with no delays expected on mail being processed.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "This week, three colleagues tested positive for coronavirus at the Blackpool 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 (Communication Workers Union) and colleagues updated. We are currently processing mail as normal at our Blackpool Delivery Office, and the office is open as normal."

What are Royal Mail doing to keep staff safe?

The postal service has assured the Gazette that it takes the health and safety of its staff, customers and local communities "very seriously".

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.

"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."

The CWU (Communication Workers Union) has been approached for comment.

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