LABOUR MP Charlotte Nichols says the Government has ‘alarmingly’ turned down some businesses who are offering their help with coronavirus testing.

The politician also discussed how long she believes the lockdown will need to be in place for.

Ms Nichols said: “Clearly no one wants to be in this situation but I believe a longer period of lockdown will unfortunately prove to be necessary.

“Given the amount of time that it takes from first contracting the virus to becoming seriously ill and even gravely ill in many cases, we will not be able to tell how successful the current period of lockdown has been in flattening the curve for at least another few weeks.

“I expect social distancing measures will be in place for a number of months following lockdown measures being lifted, but the more seriously we all take the lockdown measures now, the sooner normal life can begin to resume.

“I’m very concerned about progress that is being made on securing sufficient ventilators, personal protective equipment and testing, particularly for frontline NHS and care staff, but also wider community testing.

“It’s alarming that some businesses in Warrington North, who are willing to step up to provide these as part of the national effort, are being turned down by the Government.”

But Ms Nichols hailed the ‘incredible’ community response in providing donations, while praising key workers and urging the public to stay at home.

Warrington South Tory MP Andy Carter says every health care system in the world is being tested by the ‘terrible’ virus.

He added: “To date, Warrington remains an area with relatively few cases of Covid-19 when compared with elsewhere across the north west.

“Warrington Hospital is coping well, I speak with the Professor Constable, who is the hospital CEO, regularly so that I can support the hospital in any way needed.

“As a result of preparations undertaken by staff at the hospital, today there are beds and ventilators available should they be needed and the NHS are this week creating further capacity if and when needed at the new NHS Nightingale Hospital in Manchester.

“The Government’s chief scientists are best placed to advise on when the lockdown can be lifted and they’ll do that when they see evidence that the spread is reducing.

“We’ll get their faster if we follow advice to stay at home unless you have to go to go out for one of the four essential reasons.”