Coronavirus outbreak at Royal Mail sorting office in Manchester

A Royal Mail delivery office in Manchester has been hit by an outbreak of coronavirus, with 19 workers testing positive. 

A mobile testing unit has been set up at the delivery office, and a programme of contact tracing has begun, according to the BBC. 

The centre on Oldham Road remains open and staff are continuing to work as normal. 

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Following further positive tests for coronavirus at the Manchester Delivery Office, as a precautionary measure, we are working with Public Health England to provide tests for all of our staff from a mobile unit on site. An enhanced clean of the building has already been carried out.”

They continued: “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.”

The Director of Public Health for Manchester, David Regan, said partners ‘acted quickly’ to ‘contain and limit further potential spread’. 

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 underway.

“According to government guidance, the period of self-isolation for any contact is 14 days. We will be working with Royal Mail until that period of time has ended to ensure all the relevant action has been taken.

“At this stage everyone who has tested positive has been given specific advice to monitor their health.”

A spokesman for the CWU said the union was working with health and safety representatives on site, and expect all staff to be tested in three days.