Covid-19: Businesses angry with government despite lockdown reprieve

Shoppers on Patrick Street. Cork Chamber has warned that the increased restrictions that are still likely will impact business. File picture. 

A dozen trade groups and more than 400 individual businesses have written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressing deep concern over the Government’s Covid-19 response, despite it resisting National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommendations for a virtual lockdown of the economy in a bid to stem the pandemic.

The open letter came from those in the so-called ‘experience’ sector – hotels, bars and events companies – which contributes €4.5bn in wages and taxes each year and employs more than 330,000 people.