Shared van guidance

If your shared van partner has tested positive for coronavirus, what should you do?

All colleagues with coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new continuous cough, and/or a loss or change to your taste or smell) should self-isolate immediately and seek a test.

If you shared a van with a colleague who has now tested positive for coronavirus, consider when you last shared a van with them. If you shared a van and had close contact during the two days before they developed symptoms and self-isolated, then you should self-isolate for 14 days from the last date of close contact with the confirmed case (you are very likely to be contacted by NHS Test & Trace).

Your manager will record your absence on PSP as ‘SCU070 Coronavirus – self-isolation’ and normal Royal Mail sick pay policy will apply. You should not take a test if you don’t have symptoms as this could generate a false negative test result and you may then go on to develop symptoms in the following days.

Any other shared van duty or rest day cover duty members, who help to form a shared van ‘pod’ with the confirmed case individual, are not required to self-isolate unless they are contacted by Test & Trace and should take extra care, particularly with social distancing and hand hygiene. Should they develop symptoms, they must self-isolate immediately and arrange a test.

As a reminder, van sharing is voluntary for our employees and we have ensured a number of measures are in place to minimise any risk of infection whilst sharing a van, including face coverings, the use of hand sanitiser and cleaning of common van touchpoints. Colleagues with any concerns should speak to their line manager for more information.

Anyone who develops symptoms of coronavirus should self-isolate and request a test immediately. You can access up-to-date guidance on what steps to take while self-isolating on the NHS website. Colleagues should fully comply with instructions provided by the NHS and keep their line manager informed.