ROYAL Mail has confirmed that there is 'disruption' at its Warrington delivery office after a worker tested positive for coronavirus.

One staff member tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday, Tuesday after experiencing breathing difficulties.

He was taken to hospital and his condition has since improved.

Rumours of second case in the workforce surfaced today, Wednesday.

Yesterday, the CWU said: "It is important that we assert at this stage that we don’t consider that the safety measures taken by our membership should be considered as industrial action.

"Rather, our members have exercised their legal right to remove themselves from a potentially hazardous situation – designed to protect their own wellbeing, their family members and the wider population of Warrington.

"Postal workers are no different to anybody else and this is obviously a worrying time for everybody.

There is also widespread concern amongst staff about the lack of PPE.

Workers at the Milner Street office were asked to attend a gate meeting at 6.45am this morning.

One employee said: "We were advised by the union to self-isolate and if we did not feel safe then we should not be working.

"We all stuck together and went home.

"The big bosses haven't done nearly enough to clean the office.

"They insist all is well and that we should continue working.

"We have one more confirmed case in the office and another man is waiting for an emergency doctor's appointment as he cannot move.

"They haven't clarified if we will be paid."

Another colleague told the Warrington Guardian: "The staff are extremely concerned about spreading it around to the public, specifically the elderly and vulnerable.

"Personally I have many of those people in my area."

The union is still in talks with Royal Mail bosses.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “There is a disruption to services this morning at the Warrington delivery office.

"We are working with our people and our CWU colleagues to resolve any areas of concern, to ensure that services are resumed as soon as possible. 

"A deep clean of the office has taken place, and all staff have been assured of the PPE available to them.

"Royal Mail takes the health and safety of its colleagues, its customers and the communities in which we operate very seriously.”