Covid cloud over business- Footfall of consumers in retail markets has come down by 50 per cent because of several restrictions

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A deserted steel market during the weekend lockdown in Mumbai on Saturday.: PTI

TT |   New Delhi   |   11.04.21 : The spurt in Covid-19 cases and restrictions announced by different states have resulted in a 30 per cent business loss in one week.

Consumer footfall in retail markets have also reduced to 50 per cent, a traders’ body said on Saturday.

The imposition of night curfew, a partial lockdown and other preventive steps by various state governments have lead to a panic among consumers across the country, said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary-general of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

He said because of the night curfew, the transportation of goods from one state to another has also been badly affected.

Footfall of consumers in retail markets has come down by 50 per cent because of several restrictions.

Khandelwal said “a closer analysis of the Covid statistics over the last one week show that the restrictions have failed to bring down the caseload”.

Since the beginning of the second wave of Covid in the country, CAIT has emphasised that night curfews or lock-downs are not the only solution to curb Covid.

To deal with the pandemic, CAIT has maintained that the government should formulate a well thought out strategy in which responsibility should be given to each stakeholder.

CAIT has already assured the support of several trade associations, representing about eight crore traders, to help the Centre fight the Covid pandemic.