// The Confederation of British Industry has called for the government to work with retailers as UK plans lockdown exit strategy
// There are six elements that will help businesses plan for a relaxation of restrictions
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has urged the government to work with retailers as the UK seeks to reopen the economy.
The CBI has highlighted six elements that will help businesses plan for a relaxation of restrictions as retailers anticipate the end of lockdown.
The government is expected to reveal its exit strategy towards the end of the month.
READ MORE: Retailers brace for worst month since May as lockdown mars January
The CBI said any reopening date should be informed by statistics on health, but it
the government must confirm again “what will be considered low, medium or high-risk economic activity, so that businesses can understand what will open sooner or later”.
It said there would need to be a decision about whether to return to a tiering system and ”what will now be permitted under each tier as more people become vaccinated”.
The CBI said it was essential to identify and understand the conditions that need to be met before lifting restrictions and ”ultimately the need for social distancing”.
”We believe there are strong arguments for phase two of the roll-out being done in a way that maximises the safe reopening of the economy, such as prioritising key enablers like schools, transport, and other key public services,” CBI said.
It also called on the government to think about how ”regular mass rapid testing in the community and workplaces could allow a wider, speedier reopening of the economy”.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
