The Prime Minister has been urged to allow small businesses to get back up and running and also to reopen small shops - starting in three weeks’ time.
Haltemprice and Howden MP David Davis has said it is now “essential we take the brakes off the economy” and get as many people as possible back to work - as one vital shop underlines a contradiction in Covid-19 precautions.
Mr Davis has argued a step-by-step blueprint is needed to help small businesses and shops in the first instance to re-open amid signs that coronavirus deaths in the 海角视频 are reaching their peak.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said: “Assuming that we have this dreadful virus under control, it is now essential we take the brakes off the economy and get as many people as possible back to work.
“Starting in three weeks’ time, when this lockdown will be reviewed, we must do all we can to help small businesses get back up and running, as well as letting many more small shops open up again.
“We must kill off this virus threat – and move heaven and earth to protect those most at risk – but we must not kill off our economy in the process.
“All the data tells us that between 90 per cent and 97 per cent of the deaths have been of people with pre-existing health conditions – from heart disease to diabetes.
“There are about two million most at risk from the virus, and many are economically inactive. We must protect them as effectively as we can. For example, the supermarkets and delivery companies must be told that they are the absolute priority.
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“They must stay self-isolating while the rest of the workforce gets back to work as soon as is practical and safe.
“Of course, we cannot go back immediately to the level of economic activity that we had before the virus. But we must start what will be a step-by-step process.”
Mr Davis then goes on to say we must give small firms a tax holiday for two years.
He said: “I suggest we need a combination of tax cuts for small businesses and new spending on multiple infrastructure projects designed to get the economy back on its feet – a mixture of US-style Reaganomics and Roosevelt’s New Deal in the 1930s.
“Small businesses should effectively not be asked to pay any tax for the next two years as they are vital for our longer-term economic regeneration.
“It is the men and women running small businesses who will lead our recovery, not the multinationals and conglomerates.
“Behind the scenes, they must plan now to restart our economy and get the nation back to work – starting in three weeks’ time.”
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Businesses the nation over have been given their orders, with shutters forced down for some.
It has not been without question though, with some staff upset to stay open, and others angry they are not classed in the essential bracket.
Pramland in east Hull was forced to close on March 24 when the country went into lockdown because the shop type was not listed.
However John Barker, manager of the Courtney Street institution - a 67-year-old business that has served four generations of families - says the items he sells - including car seats, cots and prams are not only “essential” but are lifesaving.
He said: “We are not classed as essential where as B&M, The Range and many other stores are.
“We sell a number of safety items that are essential for a newborn’s care yet we, as an industry do not seem to be on the government’s radar.
“We have hundreds of expectant mothers heading towards their due dates and have no access to view and try nursery equipment. How can this be acceptable?
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“Bearing in mind that car seats are a legal requirement, and the hospital won’t let you leave the maternity ward without a child being in a car seat, so you would expect there would be some provision for a safety shop like this.
The shop has continued to allow contactless collection of items which were ordered before lockdown - but has struggled to take new orders because they do not trade online.
He said: “We are too small to fight the system. I wouldn’t know where to go and how to go about it, it’s very difficult.“We’re not saying we need to be open, but should be allowed to let one person in at a time, we need that reassurance that we can do that.
“We appreciate it’s very difficult and there has to be a line drawn in the sand somewhere, we are hopeful that the rules are relaxed for stores that can manage social distancing soon.”
Mr Barker had announced on social media that the store would open for one-to-one appointments, but swiftly changed his mind.
He said: “We did fully intend to offer appointments but decided against advertising it as we may end up getting in to serious trouble.
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“I have a very good plan on how we can offer a one-on-one in store service that would fully respect all social distancing and cleaning guidelines.
“It would ensure minimum risk for myself and the customer involved yet we must remain closed. It’s crazy that a cushion or lamp is regarded as essential yet a car seat not.
“We would have no need to even have queuing as we would operate with dedicated time slots. I guess my concern is we are fined or prosecuted for offering this and therefore took the decision to remove the post.
“We are a small firm and can not afford to be fined or for legal action to be taken against us no matter how strong we feel regarding our legal position.”
The shop is offering video appointments, for any parents who still want to shop virtually and can take orders over the phone, then offer a contactless collection.
He added: “We’ve never sold online, a lot of mums to be don’t want to order a pram online, it’s meant to be a nice experience.
“We’re trying the best we can to try and help those mums and dads, we are still taking orders, our suppliers’ warehouses are open, the couriers are open, but the supply chain falls down because the customers are not allowed in to come and view them.”