“Businesses are fully aware that public health must come first and have been doing everything they can to keep staff and customers safe, whether in pubs, shops, or offices. Getting a grip on rising infection rates now can help to maintain confidence and avoid further restrictions in the months ahead.
“While the Welsh Government should rightly be commended for consulting widely before announcing these new measures, the temporary lockdown remains a severe setback to businesses across Wales – particularly in the hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors which have suffered so significantly throughout the pandemic. Transparency and clarity of messaging are key and businesses remain keen to better understand the strategy for living with COVID-19 through the autumn and winter.
“The UK and Welsh governments have worked extremely hard and already taken decisive steps to support jobs and companies’ cashflow over the past few months, and further ringfenced business support for our hardest hit sectors is welcome as we enter the crucial winter period.”