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Today, big changes to ease Covid-19 security measures come into effect, but not everyone is ready for the controversial “Freedom Day”.

With the rising Covid-19 cases and a warning from Minister of Health Sajid Javid that the number of cases could climb to 100,000 a day later this summer, how willing are small businesses willing to give up wearing masks and social distancing measures that have become the norm are?

“To be honest, ‘Freedom Day’ is a ridiculous name and term,” said Sharon Mitchell, a former laboratory chemist who runs Soapdaze, a store and online soap shop in Exeter’s indie neighborhood on Fore Street.

She said: “It sounds like some kind of national festival while the positive Covid numbers keep on going.

“We will continue to wear masks in our storefront, but we will not insist that customers wear masks.

“I’m really confused about how the ‘Roadmap’ was data-dependent, but ‘Freedom Day’ is set in stone despite rising cases. Personally, I will continue to wear masks in other stores.”

She said she knows of two cafes that have closed due to staff self-isolation and she believes the situation will only get worse.

“I’m really sorry to all of the store and hospitality workers who work in crowded places with lots of unmasked people. There will certainly be many more cases and lots of people self-isolating.”

Ellis Robinson, manager of Cove24 in Newquay
(Image: Olivier Vergnault / Cornwall Live)

This view is echoed by Ellis Robinson, the general manager of Cove24, a restaurant and cocktail bar in Newquay, one of Cornwall’s visitor hotspots.

He said the restaurant reopened earlier this month after it had to close with nine employees self-isolating. It was one of several facilities that had to close shortly after the G7 summit.

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And Mr Robinson fears that service will continue to be disrupted following the announcement of the lifting of restrictions.

At a time when the number of Covid cases is rising in Cornwall and the school holidays are yet to come and visitors arriving from all over the country, infection rates seem to be increasing, especially among young hotel workers.

He said, “It’s really contagious and it’s still very common. Some of the team have been really bad and are still feeling the aftermath of the virus, others have decided that working in the hospitality industry is unnecessarily endangering themselves and their families and have left the industry. Due to the lack of staff in the hospitality industry, it is becoming increasingly difficult to replace staff.

“I worry that with ongoing closings and staff shortages, Newquay hospitality could become almost unsustainable. We are already closed two days a week because we simply cannot recruit enough staff to keep the restaurant open every day. It’s the same across the country and has the potential to paralyze the hospitality industry during the busiest time of year. “

Cove24 is cautious with the new lifting of restrictions and will continue to use social distancing and table service only in its restaurant and bar.

Mr. Robinson said, “While everyone wants to go back to some normalcy, forcing people in for profit will only make things worse. To protect our employees and our customers, it is necessary to keep a distance, even if this reduces our overall capacity. I think all public houses have a responsibility to protect the community they serve, but I fear that many are simply trying to restore what they lost over the year by completely relaxing the restrictions and making the situation worse . “

BusinessLive conducted a quick poll on its Linkedin pages asking about non-mandatory masks to be worn after July 19th. Out of around 150 responses, 60% said that masking should be continued as a courtesy to others, 35% said it was a personal choice, and 5% said it was not necessary.

In England, the legal requirement to wear a mask indoors ends on Monday, but the government will “expect and recommend” that people wear masks in crowded and enclosed spaces, including public transport.

Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waterstones have stated they will continue to expect customers to wear masks to protect employees and other shoppers.

Tesco said they want to “be on the safe side” and will continue to limit the number of buyers in the store at any one time.

The Association of Small Businesses (FSB) urges consumers to respect the “house rules” of consumer-centric companies who intend to make their own judgment on whether to proceed with the Covid-19 precautions.

The FSB has said it has received assurances from discussions with the government that small businesses can continue to insist on interventions such as: B. Face coverings for those not included in the exempted groups.

FSB National Chair Mike Cherry said, “No two companies are alike, so it is important that small businesses have the freedom to set the rules that apply to them, including when it comes to masks. We urge buyers, guests and night owls to respect each company’s unique house rules when they are out and about on Monday.

“We hope consumers understand and respect this as they support small businesses that are working hard to get back up and running so they can long stay at the heart of community, character, jobs and prosperity. ”

Wapping Wharf, Bristol.
(Image: BristolLive)

In Bristol, Jigaraki runs a Middle Eastern-inspired takeout at Wapping Wharf. Director Ben Williams said people need to come before the shoot and it encourages people to distance themselves and wear masks while queuing.

“We will keep our security measures until further notice, from the preparation of the dishes to the service and cleaning of the dining areas. Our customers eat outside on our tables or go to the water to tell us that they feel safe because we put them first. ”.

“I think someone as you know said, ‘with freedom comes responsibility’ … Maybe that’s something everyone should keep in mind on Monday.”

Rich Mehta, founder of Rigorous Digital, a web design agency in Cheltenham, said his team already works remotely but looks forward to human contact.

He said, “In many ways it won’t affect our day-to-day operations, but it will be nice to meet customers face-to-face again in safe spaces like cafes.

“I think that we have to find a way forward instead of living with restrictions. It’s a balancing act, but as long as” opening up “doesn’t lead to further restrictions later on, I welcome it to a certain extent personally and professionally Regain a degree of freedom. “

David Davies, chief executive of digital consultancy Navos in Bristol, agrees. He said, “The biggest and most positive impact for businesses is certainly a return to face-to-face interaction.

“While the age of virtual meetings has brought efficiency to all of our workdays, physical interaction has been a missing piece of the puzzle and has in some ways created confusion.

“Still, I firmly believe that with the easing of restrictions comes the added risk of another wave – so I’m not rushing to get everyone into the office in one fell swoop. We all must continue to exercise caution to the momentum of returning to normal. “

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What do you think of maintaining the Covid-19 security measures beyond July 19? Please let us know in the comments section what you have decided on in your company or whether you will continue to observe some measures in the summer.