Seven-day tests

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has once again praised Royal Mail, as we prepare to start our bespoke weekend collections service of Covid-19 test kits.

From this Sunday, collections can be made from 15,000 of our priority postboxes. We’re also increasing the number of priority postboxes available for Monday to Saturday postings – from 33,000 to 35,000.

Mr Hancock shared the news at today’s Government coronavirus press conference, saying: ‘I want to thank Royal Mail, who, from this weekend, will empty some of their postboxes seven days a week to speed up home testing.

‘It is a big team effort and I am very grateful for our posties playing their part to help keep people safe.’

We revealed our seven-day collections service in our extended end-of-the-month RMtv programme on 30 October. You can watch the announcement by clicking here.

For customers, our priority postboxes can be identified via the Royal Mail website or app.

‘Royal Mail has always been proud to help the country in whatever way we can and we could not be prouder of the support we have been asked to give the Government and the Department of Health and Social Care,’ said chief commercial officer, Nick Landon.

‘Since April, we have played a crucial role in the movement of test kits. This includes delivery to and collection from a growing number of regional test centres and care providers and the return of home tests.

‘As part of this we introduced a unique network of priority postboxes for the rapid return of test kits to labs to help in the country’s fight against the pandemic.’

The 15,000 priority postboxes that will receive seven-day collections will be identified by an additional label.