Ethan’s gone viral

Postman Ethan Gordon, from Boston, Lincolnshire, has posted a message on Facebook urging customers against opening their doors when they see colleagues approaching in the street.

Ethan’s message to homeowners in lockdown to not approach delivery colleagues - nor open their front doors until colleagues had stepped away, has now been shared more than 36,000 times and received thousands of comments from customers praising postmen and women for continuing to deliver during the current coronavirus crisis. 

‘So, I'm a postie (and a dad, a husband, a son and an awesome friend!) and would like to inform you of some important information,’ said Ethan in the post. ‘We deliver your parcels and letters every day. What you may not be aware of is we are classed as key workers through these terrible times…If things get worse, then us posties could be delivering healthcare products, food and even medication.’

Ethan outlined four instructions customers must follow when receiving their daily post to adhere to our social distancing guidelines to ensure minimal contact between colleagues and customers.

‘All that is ask from the public is: Think about safety first, yours and the postie,’ he said. ‘If you see a postie coming towards your door please, do not open your door. We will sign your parcels and letters for you. We will leave the parcel, food or medication on your doorstep and then knock. Give the postie enough time to step away from the door.

‘If you are already outside your house, go inside or step away two metres from your postie. Please do not approach your postie. If we tell you to stop and back up or close your door, don't feel offended. We are only trying to help protect you and us from this virus.

‘Lastly, if you see us out and you want to stop us to have a chat, feel free, it can be a lonely job. But, remember to stay at least two metres away from your postie. No handshaking, fist bumps, high fives, and certainly no kisses on the cheeks!’

Ethan finished his post by encouraging people to ‘stay safe’ in order to beat the virus as a country. He said he had spotted a similar post online and decided to share his own version, adding step four to encourage the public to speak to their postie during these lonely times.

‘It's great that it's got so much attention and the awareness has spread, but I can't take full credit for it,’ Ethan told The Mirror. ‘I feel great knowing that it's got so far around the country. People in London, Brighton, Manchester, even Cornwall have seen, shared and liked the post along with some really nice comments.

‘It gives me a sense of achievement, but any of the other postie’s posts about this message on new Royal Mail procedures in this current climate could have gone viral. I guess I was the lucky one!

‘Customers have been so nice about us posties being a sign of some normality in testing times. It seems as though our community, and country, is a lot more positive even with all the worry and uncertainty. I see a lot more people helping others out. The village I deliver has a Facebook page and I've seen posts of vulnerable people asking for help with food shopping or simply getting the daily paper. It's nice to see.’ 

Ethan bought a big bag of sugar for one household so they could have their cups of tea and continue baking. ‘Their local shop was out, but I was going to the supermarket later that day so I went back and surprised them with it. They baked me a lovely sponge cake the following day. A nice gesture but I was just happy to help where I can.’

Photo by The Mirror.