Test and protect now law in pubs
NEW coronavirus laws for visiting pubs, cafes and restaurants come into force today. The test and protect system of contact tracing must now be applied in all premises.
It means everyone who goes to a pub, café, restaurant or hospitality venue must provide staff with details.
If they are not willing to do so they must not be served.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the measures earlier this week and reminded businesses and customers that what was previously guidance is now law.
She said: “Many businesses, I believe the majority of businesses, have complied well with those measures, and I am grateful to all of them.
“But I also know there are premises where that has not been the case.”
She added: “So from now on, all hospitality businesses must collect contact details for all visitors to their premises. That includes obviously customers and staff but also people such as cleaners and delivery drivers.
“And let me make this point clear as well, particularly to members of the public, if customers refuse to provide these details, they should not be served in the place that they are trying to be served in.”
New rules also take place on practice inside and outside venues.
Ms Sturgeon said there has been concerns about queueing in some places.
The guidance states there should be no indoor queuing in hospitality premises.
Ms Sturgeon added: “And if there has to be queuing outside of the premises which we are asking premises to avoid, but if it is necessary for safety reasons, people queueing must be physically distanced.
“The guidance also states that people should not be standing together in a bar or restaurant. People should be seated only, with table service to them.”
She also reminded people that the rules on gatherings apply in pubs as they do in households.
Colin Wilkinson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Associaiton, said: “The SLTA cannot emphasise enough that what is currently for some a voluntary/staff non-intervention approach to the collection of
customers’ details is no longer acceptable. Quite simply, there must be additional staff intervention and service restrictions if customers fail to provide their contact details.
“There must be a level playing field for all, so that we don’t punish the many for the mistakes of the few.”
Meanwhile, the latest coronavirus daily statistics showed 65 new cases in Scotland, 28 in Grampian, nine in Greater Glasgow and 12 in Lanarkshire.
There were 253 people in hospital across Scotland and three in intensive care.
Yet again there had been no deaths recorded.