Coronavirus: 6 Royal Mail staff in Peterborough test positive for Covid-19

All of the positive cases relate to community transmissions, with five of the six affected people said to have recovered and returned to work.

However, one person is said to be seriously ill with the virus.

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

“Currently, there is one colleague who has tested positive for coronavirus at Peterborough Delivery Office. We wish them a speedy recovery.

“A number of members of staff are self-isolating through the test and trace service. 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 working hard to provide the most comprehensive service we are able to.

“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.”

Back in May the PT revealed there had been four positive cases at the sorting office, with posties also walking out despite Royal Mail insisting a deep clean had taken place and that safety precautions had been introduced.