MSP Lewis MacDonald urges routine testing of postal staff

North East Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald today called on the Scottish Government to increase the availability of Covid-19 testing to encompass asymptomatic key workers.

Postal workers at Kittybrewster Delivery Office in Aberdeen have expressed concern at the office continuing to operate after two staff were sent home following positive tests for Covid-19, yet under current Scottish Government rules they themselves are not allowed to book a test unless they are displaying symptoms.

Lewis Macdonald said today:

“Postal workers have continued to work throughout the pandemic, keeping us in contact with family and friends and delivering packages and supplies when many people were unable to even leave the house.

“The Scottish Government should be thanking them for this service, not making it difficult for them access to Covid-19 tests, especially when Aberdeen workers have genuine concerns that they may have been exposed to the disease.

“Expanding the availability of testing to asymptomatic key workers, or even introducing regular testing for postal workers, would go a long way towards reassuring Royal Mail staff that they are not putting their families and the families on their rounds at risk.

“That is why I have asked the First Minister to ensure that this is considered as a matter of urgency as part of the Scottish Government’s wider review of their testing strategy.”