WORCESTER'S MP says "things are going to get worse before they get better" and has warned city residents to be prepared for the fight against this "invisible enemy" to last months.

Robin Walker described the situation as unprecedented and said it was like a wartime period, but stressed the government was doing all it can to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Walker said: "The difficulty has been you have an invisible enemy, so I can see how some people could have thought it doesn't affect them.

"Take government advice seriously, it is sensible to be prepared.

"The likelihood is the intense period could last months, 10 to 14 weeks. There is going to be serious disruption."

The city's MP welcomed the Chancellor's recent budget and announcements, but he said he had been making representations on behalf of constituents for more support, including in the hospitality and voluntary sectors.

Asked about pubs suffering after the Prime Minister's advice to stay away, Mr Walker said what he wanted was to make sure that they received government support so that they will be able to stay open long term, particularly those that had already suffered following the floods earlier this year.

"This has been accelerating," Mr Walker said.

"The government has had to take extra precautions (like social distancing), and extra support will be needed.

"They are sensible precautions, it is sensible people (for example with health conditions) self isolate. It is a difficult thing to do, but it is for their safety.

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"These are things designed to slow down the spread. Difficult decisions have had to be taken."

He encouraged people to keep supporting their community, but to do it in a safe way.

"Churches can't continue services, but I know they are looking how they can do more outreach work," the MP said.

"There are ways you can (help people) safely - for example leaving groceries outside an elderly person's door."

The MP added that he was pleased that there had been cross party working on tackling coronavirus, adding government and parliament was doing "everything it could".

Speaking to the paper before this evening's school closure announcement, Mr Walker added it was likely schools would close soon given other countries in the UK had earlier already made that decision, so it needed to be in a co-ordinated way.