Business orgnisations have expressed disappointment as Northern Irish Executive announced a six-week lockdown after Christmas.
The new restrictions, which begin on December 26, include an initial week of tougher rules requiring retailers to close by 8:00 pm.
The Northern Ireland president of the Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) said the latest lockdown announced by Stormont is disappointing but necessary if the spread of the virus is to be halted.
Judith Mercer, who owns Hamilton News in Cregagh Road, Belfast, said: “It’s going to be crippling for the economy, but at the same time we need measures put in place to stop the spread of this virus.
“We need people to understand that they must wear a mask when they are shopping in local stores, to protect themselves and shop staff. The local newsagent’s or convenience store seems to be a place where some people think they can just nip in and out, so they don’t need to wear a mask, which is very unfair on the staff.”
Under the restrictions, hospitality venues must remain closed except for takeaway service, along with all non-essential retail, with a stricter demarcation between essential and non-essential retail than that deployed during the recent circuit breaker lockdown.
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Glyn Roberts, Retail NI chief executive, warned that local high streets are in for permanent damage with a “tsunami of independent retailers falling and thousands more jobs being lost” as a result of the third lockdown.
“Independent retailers selling clothes, books and toys will be forced to close their doors without even a click and collect option, while large supermarkets will remain open selling those same products. Where is the fairness in this,” he wondered.
Noting that many businesses are still awaiting financial support payments from the last lockdown, he asked the government to work “night and day to ensure that payments are made without delay” to impacted independent retailers and small businesses.
Roger Pollen, head of external affairs at Federation of Small Businesses NI, said businesses once again have to pay the penalty for the collective failure to control the virus.
“Of course we cannot ignore the wider public health context, but it is an indictment on us all as a society that we find ourselves in a position where businesses again have to pay the price for the high levels of virus transmission,” he said.
Case numbers have risen in Northern Ireland despite a two-week lockdown that started late last month, and hospital admissions and death rates remain relatively high.
“For hospitality and leisure businesses the days between Christmas and New Year are usually amongst the busiest, while for retailers the January sales are an opportunity to sell off last season’s lines, refresh stock and maximise income at the tail end of the golden quarter. Given the latest restrictions, this will now not be the case,” Pollen said.
He stressed that support mechanisms need to work more effectively than they have done to date. “Otherwise cash flow pressures will spell the end for many firms, which have already used up reserves and taken on significant debt to keep their business afloat,” he warned.
Angela McGowan, CBI Northern Ireland director, accused the NI Executive of lacking a workable long-term strategy for living with the virus, causing companies great harm.
“Against the backdrop of trying to prepare for the end of transition, NI firms are faced with what is effectively a full lockdown at such a crucial time for many businesses – particularly those in the hardest-hit hospitality, retail and tourism sectors,” she said.
“This will come as a further blow after many months of hardship and once again puts further jobs at risk.”
