Royal Mail publishes list of 28 Covid blackspots where staff shortages mean post not being delivered

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Royal Mail has published a list of 28 areas suffering from limited delivery services because so many staff members have either contracted coronavirus or are self-isolating. In a statement published with the list on its website, Royal Mail said it was “working hard to deliver the most comprehensive and high-quality service we can to all our customers” despite the pandemic and the associated rise in pressure on delivery resources due to increased online shopping. “In such cases, we always work hard to get back to providing our usual level of service as quickly as we can.” Wes Streeting, the Labour MP for Ilford North, said that while it was understandable Royal Mail was being affected by the virus, the problems were having “a serious knock-on impact on people getting important NHS correspondence, both about their vaccination and also other routine appointments”. “No one wants to see a situation where people are missing their vaccination appointments.” Royal Mail’s list of areas with limited deliveries: • Ashford • Barnsley • Basildon • Bow • Bury St Edmunds • Chelmsford • Christchurch • Daventry • Debden • Enfield • Grays • Hampton • Highbury • Hornsey • Horsham • Ilford • Leeds City • Lewisham • Magherafelt • Margate • Rugeley • Somerton • South Ockendon • South Woodford • Upper Holloway • Wandsworth • Wellington • Widnes On its website, Royal Mail advises people in the affected regions who have been left one of the service’s “Something for you” cards to check its website for the revised opening hours when they can collect the item.