Commenting on the latest announcement from the Prime Minister Boris Johnson in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Liz Cameron OBE, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
"The absolute priority for all of us is to work together and take the necessary steps to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Businesses are taking their responsibilities seriously; to our employees, our customers and our communities. These are difficult and challenging times but the message from the Scottish Government and the UK Government is clear - we must stay at home."
Responding to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s latest advice to businesses that all non-essential shops should now close, Dr Cameron said:
“This is an extreme measure but we are living in extreme times as Scotland faces a rapid acceleration of the Covid-19 virus. If the medical evidence and advice is saying we need lock down, then we need to listen to that.
“We now need all the measures that have been announced by the Scottish & UK Governments in support of businesses to be accessible quickly. Business need grants and cash now. We urge every business to pull the levers the governments have put in place.“