Cafes and restaurants in Nottingham say they are worried about the new restrictions expected to be imposed by the government.
There has been 1,465 positive cases in the city in the seven days leading up to October 3, and the infection rate has risen from 71.2 per 100,000 people to 440.1.
While the announcement hasn't yet been made, the Director of Public Health for Nottingham Alison Challenger has said they will be similar to those seen in Leicester and the north-west.
This means people will be urged not to eat or drink out with people from another household, or visit one another's houses or gardens.
Businesses across the city are now preparing for more changes - but they say enforcing them won't be straightforward.
Bishir Haoot, who owns Hounds Gate Tea House, said: "We are already down this year so it's going to have a big impact.
"We are going to be struggling even more than we are now.
"I have heard about the increase on the radio, and had one nurse come in and tell me there had been more cases.
"We have a lot of afternoon teas booked, which is a big part of our business, and I think a lot of these will be cancelled.
"I would hope we would be given a heads up on what is going to happen by someone."
Meanwhile, Chris Briggs, of Coffe X Spud in Hockley, said: "It's going to be really difficult to enforce. People can, and do, just lie about being from the same household.
"So how can you enforce that? I think it's obviously going to have a negative effect on businesses here, because it probably won't be as busy.
"I personally don't really think people will listen anyway."
Elena Kyrri-Royle is the owner of Elena's Patisserie, a Greek cafe on Chapel Bar.
She told Nottinghamshire Live: "It's not going to be good for business.
"How are we supposed to know if people are living together? It's impossible to know this.
"There are some students who are in accommodation with 300 other people - are they all classed as living together?
"There's been no communication as to what will happen. It doesn't make any sense."
David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, has emphasised it is a dangerous time for the city - and that the public need to follow the new rules immediately to try and bring down the city's infection rate.
Nottingham now has one of the highest rates of new cases in the country, behind Newcastle Upon Tyne, Liverpool, Knowsley and Manchester.
