The impact of COVID-19 on Indiana businesses remains “severe,”  with only a few improvements since April, according to a press release from the Indiana Chamber.

The group followed up on an April survey of 634 state business leaders and found only slight improvement.

“A positive spin is we are starting to trend in the right direction during this reopening period,”  Kevin Brinegar, Indiana Chamber president and CEO, said in the press release.. “The survey shows that and we are hearing that directly when we speak to our member businesses.”

But recovery won't be quick.

“The results also reinforce that this recovery is going to be a long haul – not months, but likely a year or longer before things resemble ’normal’ levels of activity,” Brinegar said in the press release. 

The survey rated the impact of the coronavirus on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the most severe impact. In April, the average response was 7.2. In late June, the number dropped slightly to 6.5.

One big concern noted by business leaders was being sued by employees or customers claiming they contracted the coronavirus because of the company's actions, the chamber said in the press release.