Virus uncertainty dwarfs Brexit concerns for market traders

Traders at one of London's biggest wholesale fruit and vegetable markets say any concerns they may have had over Brexit have been dwarfed by the uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Britain is entering a new lockdown as the country continues to record more than 50,000 new coronavirus infections a day.

The lockdown comes just days after Britain began a new trade deal with the EU following long Brexit negotiations.

Speaking before the announcement of the lockdown, traders at New Covent Garden Market said the virus was the biggest problem affecting their business.

Gary Marshall, owner of Bevington Salads and Chairman of the Tenants Association, explained most traders were operating at only 20 to 30 percent of the capacity they traded at before the start of the pandemic in early 2020.

He said while Brexit may have some effect on them in terms of extra administration and paperwork, their biggest concern is how to plan around virus restrictions, which has seen the closures of restaurants and schools across the UK.

He said the effect on his industry had been "astronomical".

(Image Credit: AP)