Please see an update on the Binbrook Post Office. This article was also printed in the Hamilton Spectator and posted on the Hamilton Spectator website.
Binbrook mail service disrupted due to COVID-19 Canada Post hopeful service to resume on April 11
Canada Post said all employees working in the Binbrook post office and letter-carrier depot have been in self-isolation since March 27. – Ryan Remiorz
Residents of Binbrook have been without mail delivery for a week after an employee at the community’s post office tested positive for COVID-19. “On April 1, we were informed an employee had been identified as positive for COVID-19,” Canada Post said in an email to The Spec. “This employee works at the Binbrook Post Office, and had not been at work since Thursday, March 26.”
Canada Post said all employees working in the post office and letter-carrier depot have been in self-isolation since March 27.
“While these employees are in self-quarantine, we have done a deep-clean and sanitization of the post office,” the statement said. Canada Post did not respond to questions about the employee’s position with the company and whether or not they had any contact with people in the community.
David Hutt, a Binbrook resident, said he found out about the service disruption when a notification posted April 2 on Canada Post’s website was shared in a community Facebook group. The notification states the disruption is due to COVID-19, but offers few additional details.
Hutt said Canada Post should have let residents know an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
“I would assume that most of any living bacteria would not survive an extremely long time on mail,” he said. “With that being said, obviously there are a lot of concerns about spread by any means.”
While Hutt understands that Binbrook post office employees were required to self-isolate, he’s surprised Canada Post doesn’t have a contingency plan. “Especially now when people are relying on postal to get things they would normally get at the store,” he said.
Hutt said he last picked up his mail April 1. The next day, mail stopped coming.
“For me, there’s no real impact,” he said. “Most of my correspondence I get from any companies — you know, bills and things — are usually electronic now anyway.” Hutt said he and his wife are waiting for a few packages from Amazon, but consider them to be non-essential.
Binbrook’s mail services will resume “as soon as possible,” following the direction of City of Hamilton Public Health, according to Canada Post. The corporation said employees will complete their 14-day quarantine period April 10, and that they are “doing their best” to reopen April 11.
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