Chamber Responds to New Tier System
Commenting on the announcement by the Prime Minister on plans for controlling Covid 19 after the current lockdown ends, Chris Fletcher, Director of Policy and Communications at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Prime Minister has confirmed with today’s Winter Covid Plan that the current lockdown measures will end on December 2nd and that a new set of regional tiers will replace them.
“It is vital to note that the new Tier system is different to the one in place before the current lockdown measures started earlier this month. For many businesses in the hospitality sector there is little immediate cheer as regards Tier 3 measures when only takeaway and delivery services will be allowed and many will be anxiously waiting on the week’s second announcement on Thursday when confirmation of what Tier regions will be in. With current infection rates falling but still substantially higher than the national average it is hard to see anything but the highest level of restrictions being imposed next week.
“There is some good news with retail being re-opened and loosening of other restrictions alongside more widespread testing and progress on vaccines, but without the prospect of adequate business support for those still unable to trade fully it could be a very long winter indeed and for many the economic challenges will intensify before they get better.”