ELDERLY people living in sheltered accommodation say they have been unable to get tested for coronavirus even though a fellow resident died from Covid-19.

People living in Crouchman’s retirement complex, in Shoebury, have been left terrified of catching coronavirus.

They claim to have been refused help to access testing by South Essex Homes - which manages the site for Southend Council.

South Essex Home says the risk to residents is minimal if social distancing and hygiene rules are respected.

Tenants living in 60 flats share lifts, lounge and laundry facilities along with a communal garden, so may have come into contact with the sick resident but requests for help to get tested have been turned down.

A friend of a resident, who asked not to be named, said: “This has made them all very nervous. They are all quite elderly and many have underlying conditions. They are frail and vulnerable and it really isn’t good enough - they are getting no support.”

A spokeswoman for South Essex Homes said: “These schemes provide homes for older people to continue independent living.

“The communal areas of all schemes are cleaned and disinfected daily, so as long as residents continue to adhere to social distancing and take precautions to keep themselves safe including regular handwashing, there should be minimal risk of transmitting the virus.

“As we are a housing organisation, we do not get involved in the provision of testing for Covid-19.”

A spokesman for NHS Southend Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Any death is a tragedy and we offer our sympathies to the family.

“As Crouchman’s is retirement housing, residents would need to make their own arrangements for testing.”