Trims, treats and trips - but keep your distance
BY JOHN DINGWALL SCOTS are gearing up to go back to the future this week as lockdown loosening sees a return to a more normal way of life.
A raft of changes to the guidelines is set to be launched today – albeit with social distancing in full swing.
Haircuts, a drink in a pub or dinner in a restaurant, and a stroll around a mall are all going to be allowed.
Opticians and dentists can offer more services, while pregnant women can have two people with them at the birth and partners can accompany them to appointments.
Young people can also return to outdoor sports, activities and play.
From Wednesday, Scots will be able to enjoy drinks and meals in pubs, restaurants and cafes indoors, with a one-metre social distance restriction in place.
Last night, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged people not to become complacent.
She said: “Progress still good – but with significant easing of lockdown next week, we all must take care. Stay safe.” Tourism will be given a much-needed boost as Scots are allowed staycations.
Many galleries, museums, cinemas and hairdressers are also reopening.
Scottish Tourism Alliance chief executive Marc Crothall said: “This allows many more businesses to open up their doors, including a lot of our visitor attractions.
“It’s not quite normality because a lot of sectors are still closed, such as the night-time venues, and not all of the businesses will be opening on the 15th.
“We are looking forward to welcoming guests from Scotland and further afield.
“It gives people a huge opportunity to get out and see Scotland at its best it can be in the current climate.
“The important thing is that it provides in many parts of the country the escape people are looking for, having been in lockdown for such a long time, and to be able to enjoy our fabulous food and drink.”
There has already been a spike in self-catering holiday bookings.
Marc added: “Many are choosing to staycation at home, so that is good for the business.
“But there is still a long way to go to get the hotel occupancies to the level where they can break even, so we are encouraging all of the people who live in Scotland to support local businesses and take time out to enjoy the best of Scottish hospitality.”
Childcare facilities will return and places of worship will open their doors for communal services and prayer but there will be limits on singing hymns to prevent potential spread of the Covid-19 virus.
More people will be allowed to attend funerals, weddings and civil partnerships.
But people will have to wait until July 22 before beauticians and nail salons can reopen with enhanced hygiene measures in place.
Phased returns are also being planned to universities and colleges.
And the wait continues for outdoor live events, theatres, music venues and bingo halls as well as gyms – although live football in empty grounds can resume from August 1.
A new publication is giving guidance to small and microbusinesses to reopen safely.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Over 98 per cent of all businesses in Scotland have fewer than 50 employees so it is critically important they can re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Federation of Small Businesses Scotland policy chair Andrew McRae added: “Small businesses need to make a lot of changes to how they work – often involving lots of complex, changing information.
“That’s why we asked the Scottish Government to help them cut through the mountain of information by providing some clear steps to follow. “This is particularly important for all the smallest businesses who don’t fit neatly into a specific sector – the dog groomer, say, or the portrait photographer.”
From today, people in hospital who do not have Covid-19 will be able to have a designated visitor.
Until now, hospital visits have only been permitted in limited essential circumstances.
These include where a patient is reaching end of life, where a patient needs a birthing partner or people with mental health issues, such as dementia, learning disabilities or autism where not having a visit would cause distress.
In the first phase of the threepart plan, hospital visitors will need to adhere to strict public health guidance to ensure patient, staff and visitor safety.
They must arrange a visit in advance and will not be able to visit anyone in hospital with Covid-19 symptoms.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Restricting access to people in hospital has been necessary to keep patients and staff as safe as possible and it has helped us protect the capacity and resilience of NHS Scotland.
“The continued progress we are making in suppressing the virus has allowed us to safely, and in a series of phases, resume hospital visiting in line with clinical expert advice.”