Jonathan Barbera, founder of Parkers MOT said concerns over staff catching the illness was now the “biggest problem” facing garages. He said one case among a garages workforce could lead to multiple colleagues to isolate, forcing garages to cancel tests.
Mr Barbera warned at least “50 percent of bookings” could be cancelled if just a handful of staff were forced to quarantine.
Mr Barbera is particularly fearful of Freedom Day on Monday, when all coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
However, as part of the Government’s coronavirus roadmap, people who have been double jabbed will still need to self-isolate if they have been pinged by the NHS app until 16 August.
Just last week the NHS Covid-19 app sent more than half a million alters warning people to self-isolate.
READ MORE: MOT garages are ’unprepared’ for a rise in electric car sales
“I have asked staff members to really limit their personal lives outside of work, what they do and how they do it.
“The problem is if one of them gets pinged then everyone else who they have come into contact with will also need to go into isolation.
“That means the business will need to close.”
He added: “First of all we would have to cancel appointments.
Mr Barbera said his staff were testing three days a week to ensure they could catch early cases before it spreads.
Staff were also stuck in zones when working in the garage which can make some work “awkward”.
However, if cases hit Mr Barbera has warned he will be forced to secure temporary staff to keep his business alive.
He confirmed temporary staff rates were up to 30 percent more expensive than contracted staff.
He added: “If it does happen we will either need to close for a couple of weeks or we will have to desperately find temporary staff.
“In the MOT industry that’s very difficult to do and it’s very expensive to do.”