Business leaders will want to see test and trace 鈥渇iring on all cylinders鈥 when restrictions end in December, the head of the Institute of Directors (IoD) in the South West has said.
Muir Macdonald, chair of the IoD for the region, said the system could be a 鈥渒ey weapon鈥 in the fight against the virus - but it wasn鈥檛 hitting its target yet.
鈥淭he Prime Minister鈥檚 emphasis on this is welcome, but the results on the ground will matter most,鈥 he said.
鈥淐ontrolling the virus is crucial for the economy in the long run and we must work together do the right thing.鈥
Mr Muir said the lockdown measures, which will come into force on Thursday (November 5), will put a 鈥済reat strain鈥 on an 鈥渁lready fragile鈥 business community.
The four-week lockdown includes the closure of restaurants, pubs, entertainment venues and non-essential shops.
Bristol-based chamber of commerce Business West has already said the national lockdown could be "ruinous" to businesses that are forced to close, while Exeter Chamber of Commerce has called for the Government to provide a clear exit plan.
Meanwhile, Cornwall could see firms going out of business and further redundancies as a result of the national restrictions, according to its chamber chief.
Mr Macdonald said: 鈥淲ith the return of restrictions, gaps in Government support need to be addressed. Small company directors who have gone without support throughout the crisis should be helped through local authority grants.
鈥淢any of our members in the South West are SMEs or micro businesses and we know from talking to them that they have been frustrated by the number of gaps they have fallen through.
鈥淥ur hospitality and tourism sectors have been particularly hard hit and now face closing again at another peak time for business in the run up to Christmas, which is especially hard after investing considerably into making their venues as safe as possible.鈥
He added: 鈥淭he decision to reinstate furlough is absolutely the right one, and the announcement should bring relief to many businesses.
鈥淒irectors will be eager for clarity on the employer contributions, as we are now returning to circumstances much like the start of the summer."
