Covid restrictions: Does the damage being caused now outweigh the risk?

Darryl Rigby, Content Executive at the Immigration Advice Service, gives a fresh perspective on the current issues businesses are dealing with regionally and nationally.

Dubbed ‘Freedom Day’ by the national press, June 21st was set to be the date when the last of the government-imposed social restrictions were removed, allowing every business across Cumbria and the rest of the country to operate as normal for the first time since last March.

But after announcing the plan would be pushed back for at least a month, the government dealt another hammer blow to the live music, nightlife and events industries, with many businesses finding it increasingly difficult to survive due to the ongoing social restrictions.

Following a torrid 15 months, many of the region’s most beloved venues like the iconic Shepherds Inn have been forced to shut up shop, while countless events including the last two editions of Kendal Calling have also been cancelled.

Sadly, following the recent announcement, things may be about to get worse before they get any better.

What was the plan?

When mapping out the UK’s exit from lockdown, the government promised to help get these industries back on their feet by removing the last remaining restrictions in late June – provided enough of the population had been vaccinated in time.

But despite seizing every opportunity to brag about the success of the country’s vaccination program, in what could prove fatal for the thousands of pubs, nightclubs and other businesses that are currently hanging by a thread, the government postponed the removal of the last remaining restrictions until at least July 19th, with some suggestions that it could be delayed for even longer.

For the many business owners and events organisers clinging to survival, strong summer trade was viewed as essential for offsetting some of the crippling financial losses caused by the pandemic, but with the government now moving the goalposts once again, for many the removal of this crucial lifeline could well be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

How necessary are the restrictions at this stage?

As I’m sure most of us can agree, until now these measures have been essential in preventing the virus from spreading like wildfire and overwhelming our already threadbare health service. But at what point does this start to become overkill and the cure becomes more dangerous than the disease?

When the first and second waves hit, ministers were accused of prioritising the economy over human life after refusing to lock us down until much later than our European neighbours – not once but twice – which undoubtedly led to more people dying and merely prolonged the inevitable.

This cumbersome, money-first approach – along with the care home issues and those cronyist contracts – helped turn the UK into an international laughing stock, held up as the poster child for how not to deal with a global pandemic.

But although infection rates are on the rise once more, following the success of the vaccination program, this time around the data is telling us a different story. Despite the recent surge in infections attributed to the emergence of the Delta variant, hospital numbers remain low, suggesting the vaccines are doing their job and minimising the damage caused by this new strain.

With hospital admissions minimal and the daily death toll still at single digits, where is the evidence that shows this new variant poses a significant enough risk to warrant the continuation of the restrictions?

Right now, there doesn’t seem to be any.

Data following test events

When the government piloted a number of test events in Liverpool back in April including a 5,000-person club night and a small outdoor music festival, it said there was no evidence to suggest the events caused an increase in transmission.

Each attendee was required to present a negative lateral test before being allowed inside, with scientists looking at whether crowds mixing and dancing would increase the risk of transmission.

After the results of the experiment were collected, a total of just 15 positive cases was recorded, demonstrating that when events are carried out in this way, the potential for the virus to spread is negligible.

For those hoping for a return to the fields and dancefloors sometime soon, this was viewed as great news. Afterall, this experiment was supposed to be the test case that got the nightlife industry and festival season back up and running, so when all the evidence is telling us these restrictions aren’t necessary and there’s scientific proof showing that club nights, festivals and large gatherings can take place without the risk of increased transmission, why does the government seem to be ignoring its own findings?

Is it possible they’re now employing an ultra-cautious approach due to their past failings? Having had their fingers burned by their own ineptitude already, a careful approach is perhaps understandable, but when people’s lives and livelihoods are at stake, this is no time for reactionary politics. Instead, now more than ever we need strong leadership and a government that’s assessing the data and making fluid decisions based on the evidence.

The claim from the Prime Minister and his cabinet all along has been “we’re following the science”, but we now know that wasn’t the case during the first two waves, and it’s becoming increasingly obvious that isn’t the case now.

Furthermore, if this was simply the result of an over-cautious government acting in the interests of the public, why are there such blatant double-standards on display? While nightclubs are forced to remain closed and most outdoor music festivals have already had to pull the plug for a second summer running, down in Westminster the government is gleefully announcing 60,000 football fans will be allowed to descend on Wembley for the semi-finals and final of the Euros, while full capacity crowds at Wimbledon have also been given the green light.

Nothing’s going to get in the way of Boris and his strawberries and cream it seems!

No additional funding

As well as ensuring many businesses are still unable to trade, parliament is also refusing to pledge any additional funding, and it was recently announced there’ll be no extension to the furlough scheme, which is set to be phased out over the coming months.

With no definitive end to these restrictions in sight and the government unwilling to offer any more financial support, this is yet another kick in the teeth for the business owners and their employees who are struggling to make ends meet in these times of crisis.

Even for the businesses within hospitality that were able to continue trading, with the business rates holiday set to end on July 1st, the refusal to offer additional financial support could prove terminal. Prolonging restrictions and forcing pubs and restaurants to limit customers and cut their opening hours, while refusing to offer additional support seems, quite frankly, absurd.

When looking at the government’s decision-making throughout this pandemic, the apathy shown for certain industries shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Indeed, this is nothing new for the Tories, as time and again they’ve shown a complete disregard for the arts and the nightlife industry. One only has to look at the gentrification of the capital’s club scene and the refusal to negotiate visa-free travel for live performers in the Brexit trade deal to see where their priorities do – or don’t – lie.

What’s being done to push back?

While most people will simply hope and pray for some positive news when the next announcement comes, not everyone is taking the postponement of the restrictions lying down.

On Saturday 26th June, a number of mass protests took place in central London with thousands making the trip to the capital to make their feelings known. As well as the large number of protesters who took part in the demonstration, many of the biggest names from the UK’s club scene were in attendance, with a host of DJs and live performers playing in what was referred to as the #freedomtodancemarch.

Some were predicting the protest would be the biggest demonstration ever seen in London, although it fell some way short of the anti-Iraq war protest which drew an estimated 1 million people back in 2003.

Regardless of the numbers, it’s refreshing to see people coming together and opposing this negligent strategy, and although the demand for the restrictions to be lifted immediately will have fallen on deaf ears, the massive demonstration will serve as a fitting reminder that many people in this country have had enough of leaders who refuse to make decisions based on data and fail to treat all sides fairly. When the time comes for another review, this could well make all the difference.

From the fabled art colleges that helped cultivate some of the world’s most iconic bands, to the legendary clubs and pubs that moulded them into the stars they would later become, the long and storied history of the UK’s rich culture of music is one that should be revered, respected and protected. Instead, rather than preserve that history and ensure it continues long into the future, this government seems hellbent on dismantling it, brick by brick.

If nobody stands up to them, they might just succeed.

This article was written by Darryl Rigby, Content Executive at the Immigration Advice Service.

**The Chamber advises businesses to check its Covid Toolkit, which has details of the new restrictions and links to apply for grants for businesses that are affected by the restrictions.

The toolkit is on the Chamber’s website at: https://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk/news/28573-restart-rebuild-and-renew

**Any businesses who wish to engage with the Chamber to share their concerns, issues or queries can email Luke on luke@cumbriachamber.co.uk

© Cumbria Chamber of Commerce