Fears new lockdown rules may be a setback for call to return to the office

Boris Johnson‘s draconian new coronavirus restrictions have delivered yet another gut-punch to businesses owners today, who fear they ‘will never return to normal’. 

The PM told the House of Commons that a spike in infections seen over the past week left him no choice but to act as he introduced a new ‘rule of six’. 

From Monday it will be illegal to assemble in groups of seven or more anywhere in England, whether indoors or out.

But it has sparked fear among businesses, who fear their workforce will now choose to stay at home. 

Shop owners on Britain’s stricken high streets also worry they’ll see footfall plummet again as customers avoid going out.   

Jools Cardozo, the owner of Farringdon and Forbes Home Interiors in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said the stringent rules could have ‘utterly catastrophic’ ramifications.

She told MailOnline: ‘I fear that we will never return to a new ‘normal’ as long as those that could go back to work stay away and continue to work from home.  

‘My business relies on footfall and the office workers support the high street but just as we are beginning to take one step forward we are now told to take one step back. It’s ludicrous.’

Beauty entrepreneur Grace Poston-Miles fears the new rules could make customers too scared to come into her West Sussex.

Gillian Bartlett runs Lancashire-based Copa Fizz, a mobile gin, beer and Prosecco bar which caters to weddings, popups and festivals across the North-West. 

She said since lockdown all the work she had booked ‘vanished overnight’ and said today’s announcement comes as another ‘nail in the coffin’.

As the move prompted fears a wider and more damaging lockdown might follow: 

• Boris Johnson today insisted draconian new coronavirus restrictions are essential to ‘keep our economy going and schools open’; 
• Oxford and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine trial is put on hold for safety reasons after a British volunteer had a ‘serious’ reaction that could have been caused by injection
• Business leaders, MPs and scientists told the Prime Minister  not to lock Britain down again, with one think-tank warning a second shutdown would be ‘catastrophic’. 
• The daily Covid death toll reached 30 yesterday – the most in six weeks;
• Health bosses apologised for testing system failures after laboratory backlogs left many people unable to book;
• The first ‘credible’ cases of reinfection by coronavirus are starting to be seen, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs;
• Aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst was quietly replaced amid continuing fury at the lack of coronavirus tests at airports;
• The number of patients waiting for an organ transplant has risen to a five-year high because of the pandemic; 

Ms Cardozo added: ‘There will be many that see this latest setback as an opportunity to work from home but this is not the attitude that we need right now especially when as a country we are faced with adversity again just as we were all beginning to look forward to Christmas.

‘I fear we are entering a very testing time as a result of Boris Johnson’s latest announcement and as a business owner it would be utterly catastrophic if we faced another national lockdown. 

‘I do not think many business would survive if I am being totally honest and I fear for our country.’

Gillian Bartlett from Copa Fizz told MailOnline: ‘When the relief from lockdown came, I was left with smaller gatherings up to 30 people. 

‘I secured a small wedding reception in the Trafford borough, which is now subject to increased local restrictions so can’t go ahead. 

‘I then had a birthday party for 50 people which now can’t go ahead. I just can’t find an outlet where I’ll be able to trade.’

Gillian contracts staff for larger events, but has had no income since her last event in February. 

This year she expected to turn over in excess of £60,000 and was set for her busiest season yet, with race meetings, weddings and Christmas parties and markets.  

‘Most events are held at weekends from Easter through to September you’re pretty much out every weekend, Friday to Sunday. December can be our most profitable month.

‘I’ve not had any wages since February, and I’m not eligible for support from any of the government’s schemes,’ she added. 

‘I’m just trying to ride it out, that’s all I can do. This is yet another nail in the coffin today. 

‘Nobody is going to have a celebration with five people, paying to bring in bar services.  

‘An awful lot of businesses are being forgotten about in the government support schemes. I fear for hospitality.’  

Grace Poston-Miles, who owns Grace Hair and Beauty salon in Chichester, West Sussex told MailOnline: ‘I feel as though since we have reopened after lockdown, the social aspect has been removed. 

‘Previously we would have clients booking appointments together so they could catch up and get ready for nights out but now with distancing measures and the new rules this is no longer possible. 

‘Whilst we have been busier than ever, there are still clients who’ve chosen not to visit the salon as they are still unsure. 

‘I think these new rules could possibly make people feel they still shouldn’t be visiting ‘non-essential’ businesses. 

‘I’m very lucky that my team are so hardworking and I’ve not had any issues with them coming back to work – but I know others who have had staff members that are nervous of getting back.’ 

Ms Cardozo said employers ‘need to tackle this problem and act now to get the workforce back into the towns and cities.’ 

She added: ‘It has been mixed messages from day one which have thoroughly confused the public and given those an opportunity to abuse the rules on social distancing which has lead us to where we are today. 

‘It is only dangerous to be in large groups if you do not socially distance and observe the rules so returning to the office is a must and vital to the economy and employers need to take action.

‘Rather than restrict everybody’s movements the government should get tougher with those disobeying the rules, a £100 fine is not enough of a deterrent in my opinion and as we have seen it is the partying youngsters that are in the group that is showing more COVID cases than any other.’ 

Roger Barker, Director of Policy at the Institute of Directors told MailOnline the return of stringent restrictions could ‘dent consumer confidence’.

He added: ‘The rules may also have a knock-on impact on ​business plans and attitudes towards things like public transport ​and returning to offices.

‘What’s crucial is that the support for businesses reflects the restrictions they are having to operate under. 

‘The Government should think twice about winding up some of its flagship schemes, with the virus still in circulation. ​Developing a stronger package of business support for local lockdowns is also essential.’

The PM was last night urged to think very carefully before imposing a new lockdown in response to a spike in virus cases.

Business leaders, MPs and scientists told the Prime Minister to consider other options first, with one think-tank warning a second shutdown would be ‘catastrophic’.

Concern within government was prompted by figures on Sunday showing there had been 2,988 new infections in the previous 24 hours, the highest daily rate since May 22.

Monday’s numbers were at a similar level, with an additional 2,948 positive cases up to 9am, a jump from the 1,175 reported on Saturday. The latest death toll of 30 was the highest in six weeks.

But Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs said: ‘With UK case numbers at a fraction of where they were back in March, a second lockdown would be catastrophic and should be avoided.

‘Sweden has shown us a more sensible way to balance risk, liberty and the economy. The Government’s justification for the nationwide lockdown in March was to protect the NHS. After six months of preparation, it is very unlikely that the NHS will be overwhelmed by a second wave.’

Mike Cherry of the Federation of Small Businesses said the first national lockdown was incredibly damaging, adding: ‘If we can avoid a second through the utilisation of alternative measures to contain the virus, that would give hope to a lot of small firms as they try to get back on their feet.’

Tej Parikh of the Institute of Directors said business leaders would be flinching at the prospect of a return to heavy restrictions.

‘It’s paramount that whatever measures have to be taken, the support for businesses matches them,’ he said.

‘The Government should also be wary of withdrawing existing support too quickly, as the virus isn’t done and dusted yet.’

Shaun Fitzgerald, a Cambridge professor and government adviser on social distancing, urged the public to take more responsibility. He said: ‘Perhaps the question should be ‘could I be doing something differently to help?’ For example, can I reduce the frequency I go to the shops by planning ahead more rigorously with my grocery shopping?

‘Am I washing my hands as regularly as lockdown? There are lots of things perhaps which we can all do to help.’

Responding to last night’s Government announcement that social gatherings of more than six people will be banned from Monday, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘This is just mad. It’s ludicrous.

‘This will be a hammer blow to the economy just as we were starting to get things on track.

‘Why is it that we are having this ‘push me pull you’ approach? This can’t go on.’

Former environment secretary Theresa Villiers said: ‘Going back into lockdown would be a huge setback for the economy. I hope the Government will exhaust all other possible options before they consider the drastic step of closing down the economy all over again.’

Tory MP Steve Baker, a former Brexit minister, said: ‘A new national lockdown would spell economic, non-Covid health, educational, civic and social doom. It cannot be allowed to happen.’

Yesterday Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he would not ‘shy away from taking targeted local action’, such as that imposed yesterday in Bolton.