Statement from Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID Company & Chair The BID Foundation:
The onus is on everyone right now. These restrictions don’t mean Liverpool is closed but it does mean we need to spend a little more time thinking about safety when we are out and about. When you’re keeping yourself safe, you’re keeping Liverpool safe.
It’s incredibly disappointing that these restrictions have had to come in. The last thing we wanted was anything that could disrupt Liverpool’s fragile recovery. What we have to focus on now is three fold: We have to make sure businesses have everything they need to make both themselves and their customers safe; We need to be securing support for the businesses who are not going to be able to operate under these restrictions; We need to ensure this situation is as short lived as possible and we work together to get these numbers down.
We will be working with our businesses across all sectors to help them adhere to these new restrictions and timings. Everyone needs to do their own bit and we need to be extra careful. If you’re a business, be it a retailer, a hospitality business or you have an office in the city centre, are you making it Covid-safe for your staff and customers? Do you have a trace system in place in case you need to contact anyone who’s been in your business? Do you know what your responsibility is and what the guidance is for the city that you need to adhere to?
It’s worth remembering that this couldn’t have come at a worse time for some businesses. Furlough is coming to an end; for many, many businesses they haven’t seen anything yet of a recovery. While some have benefited in this period, others have been unable to open their doors yet haven’t had any support. We are continuing to lobby government, locally, regionally and nationally, to make sure that when these restrictions are lifted we aren’t faced with businesses for whom this has been the last straw and they’re forced to shut.
For anyone in the city centre, whether it’s for work or leisure, make sure you have your mask with you as it is mandatory inside many public spaces. Carry some hand sanitizer so that you can keep your hands clean while you’re out and about. Keep your distance from other people.
