Bristol is ‘likely’ to move into a higher tier of restrictions when the national lockdown ends in early December, city mayor Marvin Rees has warned.
Speaking at a press conference this week, Mr Rees said he expected Bristol would move to Tier 2 when the four week lockdown ended.
Mr Rees also said he was ‘disappointed’ to find out about England's national lockdown "at the same time as everybody else".
Just last week Mr Rees said Bristol was going to move to Tier 1 Plus - a locally implemented series of measures, rather than a national one, to tackle rising numbers of the virus across the city
This was followed by the announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that England was to go into a second national lockdown from Thursday, November 5, until December 2.
Currently the city is under Tier 1, the lowest tier and set of restrictions.
Mr Rees said: "It is highly unlikely we would go from national lockdown and go back to Tier 1.
“We are likely to go into tier 2 (although) that decision is ultimately with Government.
"We want them to give us certainty."
The mayor said he would involve the business community in any exit strategy plan, adding that Bristol City Council was already pushing the Government for funding.
Mr Rees said he anticipated a £44million a month shortfall in funding, with the measures costing the city £53.8million over the month.
He said the Government was currently offering Bristol £9million in funding support.
"(The lockdown will be) a real blow to the hospitality sector and (the city's) night-time economy, which we have been supporting," he said.
"It is a wickedly difficult situation.
"As well as the virus, there are socio-economic factors, such as joblessness and social isolation to consider."
According to Bristol-based chambers of commerce Business West, the national lockdown in England could be "ruinous" for some businesses .
Phil Smith, the managing director, said the restrictions would be "shattering" to companies that are forced to close.
"Many companies have worked hard to make their workplaces and services Covid -safe.
"So, as necessary as this seems to be, it will be a bitter disappointment to all and ruinous for some," said Mr Smith.
The local authority is already looking at how it could make more of its open spaces, such as Corn Street in the city centre, available for hospitality businesses over Christmas.
There were 1,784 confirmed new cases last week, said the mayor, who added the city had been on a "steady curve" in terms of coronavirus growth.
He added that testing "had improved" and a large number of results had come into the system, explaining the increase in positive cases in the city in recent weeks.
"Bristol has the most (cases) in the South West.
"The pressure on the hospitals has been growing - in line with trends elsewhere in the country."
Mr Rees added that he was "frustrated" the Government didn't have a national firebreak over half-term similar to the one implemented in Wales.
"I was disappointed we didn't do this in line with scientific advice over half term," he added.
"We are more than happy to work with government, but we could have done this sooner and for a shorter period."
