At some of our pubs...’
Others are happy to proceed cautiously
●People allowed to meet other households at a social distance. ●Scots allowed to sit in parks and meet up outdoors in small groups of friends or family from one other household.
●Drive-thru food outlets reopen gradually. Garden centres and recycling facilities open with social distancing in place.
●Travelling further for exercise and enjoying non-contact leisure activities such as golf, hiking, canoeing and angling allowed. ●Non-essential outdoor businesses allowed to resume work, including some construction sites.
●NHS primary and community services, including mental health, restart. IVF treatment resumes. ●Designated visitors to care homes under consideration.
●Safe reopening of the housing market. No details given.
●Court and tribunal buildings reopen, with limited business and public access.
FRASER WILSON
Nicola Sturgeon has announced Scotland is moving to phase two of the country’s slow route out of coronavirus lockdown.
The First Minister confirmed changes to socialising inside and outdoors in a welcome boost to Scots desperate to meet more friends and family.
But, despite rumours that pubs and restaurants could benefit from moving to the next phase, Ms Sturgeon said she would wait a further two weeks for more information as to whether they could be reopened.
Now Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson has called for “transparency” on her thinking behind this, saying the news would be a blow for the hospitality industry.
The Conservative MSP told the News: “Her announcement was a bitter blow to many in our pub and hospitality industry who had been hoping for a bit of movement after months of having no income.
“I fully understand that we need to be following the science at all times and that new evidence is emerging all the time.
“However, there was a clear narrative and expectation ahead of the First Minister’s announcement that beer gardens and outdoor areas were set to reopen imminently.
“To hear her talk about different patterns of breathing just won’t wash with many who are struggling to stay afloat. That is why she needs to be fully transparent on the decision making process.”
Ms Sturgeon said there was evidence that places like pubs and gyms are “hotspots” with a higher risk of transmission.
Now Mr Simpson wants her to expand on her comment that this is “where your pattern of breathing might be changed”.
Owner of the Village Inn, Paul Jardine, said he understood that the omission of the re-opening of pubs from last week’s was “disappointing,” but said he understood why the decision was taken.
He said the Scottish Government “know a hell a lot more” about the situation “than we do” and said he’d rather open his doors when he can trade at full capacity.
Paul (pictured) told the News: “I feel for the other publicans in the town who do have beer gardens.
“There have been some who have spent a lot of money doing up their beer gardens, or creating one in anticipation of opening after the announcements, but that won’t happen yet.
“But I don’t think we’re ready in terms of having as many people in as we would need to make money or break even. We’re a busy pub and I couldn’t trade at the level needed with the social distancing rules in place.
“As long as the furlough scheme is continued throughout this, we should be okay, but if we opened and traded at a fraction of the footfall, we’d probably go bust in about three weeks.
“I want us to open and go full pelt. I feel sorry for a lot of our customers and we miss them, we missing seeing them and hearing their stories and about what’s going on with them.
“And it’s not about going to the pub to get drunk, it’s the social aspect.
“For a lot of people, that is what they do to socialise and keep in touch with others.
“I’ve enjoyed the break a bit. It’s possibly the right thing to do. We need to open when it’s the right time to do it.”
Rules on sticking within five miles of your area will remain in place, apart from visiting some relatives.
But in a major change, people “shielding” at home can now exercise outside, even playing golf and meet another household with immediate effect.
There was relaxation of social meetings, where you can now meet up with members of two other households outdoors in groups of no greater than eight people.
You can also go indoors to use the bathroom, making sure you clean the toilet and surfaces touched thoroughly.
Face coverings are now mandatory on all public transport, including buses, trains, the subway, planes, enclosed ferries and taxis.