Businesses in Harrogate would face another tough battle to survive if a second national lockdown was imposed, Harrogate chamber has said.

The government is currently considering further restrictions, which could include another lockdown, in order to halt the surge in coronavirus cases.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to give a statement to the House of Commons at 12.30pm today where new restrictions may be announced to tackle the increase in new infections.

Sandra Doherty, chief executive of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said people need to be made to feel safe but added further measures would have an impact on businesses which are only just recovering.

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She added that the government’s job retention bonus scheme, which offers £1,000 for every furloughed employee who is kept on until January, may not be taken up by businesses.

She said:

Earlier today, Professor Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Sir Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser, warned that without further action cases could reach 50,000 per day by October.

So far, cases since the start of the pandemic have reached a total of 926 in the Harrogate district, with 26 new infections since Friday.

Last week, North Yorkshire declared a “major incident” amid an increase in coronavirus cases in the county.