Obey the new rules, if it can happen to us it can happen to anyone
As FM announces new restrictions, a heartbroken widow who lost husband to virus begs Scots to take it seriously
A GRIEVING family last night begged people to follow Covid rules after losing their dad at just 53.
Jan Gillan and her three daughters spoke as Nicola Sturgeon set out new curbs.
A SCOTLAND-WIDE ban has been imposed on house visits in a bid to o control soaring levels of Covid-19.
Nicola Sturgeon also slappeded a 10pm curfew on pubs andnd restaurants and advised againstnst car sharing.
However, she tried to reassuresure the public by saying the new restrictions will not “necessarily”arily” be in place for six months.
She said the curbs willill be reviewed in less than a month.nth.
Governments acrosss the UK yesterday announcedd new restrictions to address an alarming increase in coronavirus cases.
In recent weeks, about one million people in the west of Scotland have not been allowed to visit each other’s homes as part of local lockdowns.
In a widely expected move, Sturgeon told MSPs the ban will be extended nationally.
She described the restriction on household gatherings, which will stop friends and family from visiting each other’s homes, as the “most difficult” part of her statement.
She said: “One of the reasons we have decided to do this is that our early data suggests this restriction is starting to slow the increase of cases in the West of Scotland. So, if we extend itit nationwide now, in an early and preventative way, we hope it will help to bring the R number down and the virus back under control.”
The ban will formally come into force on Friday but Sturgeon urged people to comply from today. However, she said exceptions will be made for groups including those living alone, couples in non-cohabiting relationships and tradespeople, or in cases where “informal childcare” is provided by people like grandparents.
The Government also said a maximum of six people from two households will be able to meet in outdoor spaces. There will be no limits on the ability of children under 12 to play together outdoors. The First Minister also announced a “strict nationwide curfew” for pubs, bars and restaurants, which from Friday will be required to close at 10pm. She alsoa addressed why pubs will nonot be closing altogether, saying: “The answer – to be frank – is that we are seeking to find a balance between action to suppress the virus and the protection of people’s jobs and livelihoods. “If the Scottish Government had greater powers to borrow money, or the ability to extend the Job Retention Scheme, for example, it is possible that we would reach a different balance of judgment on some of these issues. But we don’t. “So this decision today means we can reduce the amount of time people are able to spend in licensed premises, thereby curtailing the spread of the virus, while still allowing businesses to trade and provide jobs.” However, she warned that further restrictions, including possible closure of hospitality venues, will be “unavoidable” if the rules within pubs and restaurants are not fully complied with. In comments that will dash the hopes of Scots desperate for a holiday, the First Minister asked the public not to book overseas travel for the October break if it is not essential. And in another restriction, Sturgeon said the Government is advising against car sharing with people outside their own household.
She also announced that low- income Scots will be offered £500 to help them deal with the cost of isolation at home during lockdown.
It follows a UK Government pledge to help people cope with the burden of self-isolation.
A spokesman for the Scottish Beer and Pub Association said: “Make no mistake, a 10pm curfew will devastate our sector during an already challenging environment for pubs. Pubs were struggling to break even before today and these latest restrictions will push some to breaking point.
“Restricting key trading hours on top of fragile consumer confidence, and the reduced capacity pubs already face in addition to the current ban on sound from televisions and background music they are contending with, will put hundreds more pubs and thousands more jobs at risk.”
Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance said: “The First Minister’s announcement that bars, pubs and restaurants will close at 10pm from Friday will serve as a significant blow to many hundreds of businesses across Scotland who have worked hard to ensure compliance with government guidance to protect their staff, customers and to offer confidence that all possible measures have been taken to protect these groups.”
These latest restrictions will push some pubs to breaking point SPOKESMAN FOR BEER AND PUB ASSOCIATION