In this, the third consecutive week of COVID-19 restrictions on our daily and work lives, we now have the added challenges of improving weather and the extended Easter break to contend with.

Over the coming days and weeks, more than ever it is crucial that everyone abides by the latest advice, guidelines and rules. That will give us the best possible chance of exiting this crisis as soon as possible. Failure to do so could see the current restrictions lasting longer and even tougher ones being put in place. No one wants to see either of these scenarios play out.

While the impact on our daily lives is unwelcome, so too is the news that the current measures are costing the UK economy a staggering £2.4 billion per day.

This figure alone demonstrates just how important it is to get back to normality, fast. In order to do that, it is important that we support affected businesses so that they are still be around to produce the goods, services and employment we need, once the COVID-19 crisis has passed.

READ MORE: City businesses sharing in lifeline

That’s why the Federation of Small Businesses has been campaigning to secure as much support as possible, for as many businesses as possible, as quickly as possible.

In addition to our work with national Government, we have been working with councils and other local business facing organisations, to help ensure that national announcements translate effectively into local action. For example, in Worcestershire, the grants promised to qualifying small businesses and those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are beginning to flow. Plus local intelligence about how things are working in practice is being fed up the line to help shape national Government actions.

Yet perhaps the most important actions right now, are those that we take at a personal level. The temptations to socialise during the warmer weather and Easter break must be resisted if we want to get through this crisis as quickly as we can and in the best shape possible.