The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has pushed Prime Minister Boris Johnson to outline a plan for future CV19 variants.
BCC Co-Executive Director, Claire Walker, said the UK businesses will only be able to live with the virus once they are confident that a plan is in place for future outbreaks.
She also cautioned the UK Government against pushing the cost and responsibility for testing on to employers.
'Shadow of pandemic'
She said: “Businesses need to understand how government will respond to further variants of concern – or indeed a future pandemic – and what support would be put in place if new guidance or mandatory restrictions are introduced that have a negative impact on the economy.
“Firms will only truly be able to ‘live with covid’ when they are confident that a plan is in place for future outbreaks.
"Uncertainty will put a brake on investment and the shadow of the pandemic could continue to loom over our economy for some time to come.”
Testing times
Boris Johnson set out plans to end nearly all Covid rules in England in the House of Commons on Monday. Free tests and self-isolation rules will end, as well as self-isolation payments for those on low incomes.
The BCC said the government "must not pass on public health decisions on to businesses".
“Businesses will welcome the ambition of the Prime Minister that inches us closer to pre-pandemic trading conditions, Claire added.
"However, for many firms, this move will not be without its challenges and government must not pass public health decisions on to the business community, who are not public health experts.
“Members continue to tell us that access to free testing is key to managing workplace sickness and maintaining consumer confidence. If the government is to remove this, companies must still be able to access tests on a cost-effective basis."