THE proportion of positive coronavirus tests in Cheshire East has risen to 8.7 per cent of all tests over the last week, it has been revealed.

Ian Ashworth, Director of Public Health Cheshire West and Chester, told officials on Cheshire West's Covid-19 outbreak board that the Cheshire East rise in positive tests were recorded in a week which saw a 13.6 per cent fall in the number of residents getting a test.

In terms of a percentage change, 8.7 per cent represents an increase of positive tests by 1.2 per cent from the previous week.

Mr Ashworth told members: "We have got to understand what people's thoughts are about testing. I have been keen to get a series of videos out about how to access a testing site to [remove] the barriers in their experience."

The meeting took place while MPs voted to formally approve the new four-week lockdown which will begin after midnight tonight (Wednesday).

Cheshire East Council leader Cllr Sam Corcoran said about the restrictions: "We have spoken out over the last eight months when the government was slow to act, failed to deliver critical support, relied too heavily on opaque national commercial contracts and didn't provide enough certainty to protect jobs and businesses while making announcements without proper consultation with local government.

"But, given where we now are, the pressures on our NHS, and the advice of national and local public health experts, we support the government's decision to introduce a time-limited national lockdown."