Here’s to happy Mondays
Pubs to reopen on July 6... but no decision on cutting 2m rule
‘Need for action to protect jobs’
SCOTLAND’S struggling pubs and restaurants have welcomed the ‘much-needed’ good news after being told they can reopen.
Beer gardens and outdoor dining areas can open from Monday, July 6, while pubs and restaurants can reopen indoor areas from July 15.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the move as she fast-tracked parts of her routemap out of lockdown.
But she refused to speed up a decision on whether to scrap the two-metre social distancing rule, despite fears that it makes business unviable for the vast majority of bars and restaurants.
The hospitality industry has already endured more than three months without customers during lockdown.
Further guidance is expected in the next week over what measures bars and restaurants will need to introduce to prevent the spread of the virus.
This will include a requirement they take the names and contact details of customers and store them for four weeks to help in tracking down anyone who has spent time near someone later found to have the virus.
Paul Waterson, spokesman for the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: ‘Today’s announcement is clearly much-needed good news for pubs but many operators desperately need the two-metre social distancing parameter reduced if they are to be viable.’
He called for ‘balanced and sensible’ guidance, adding: ‘While today’s announcement gives us definitive dates to work towards make no mistake – there is still a very long way to go, with many other issues to be addressed.’
In England, the two-metre rule has been replaced with ‘one metre plus’, as long as other mitigation measures are introduced. Miss Sturgeon said she will receive further scientific advice next week and announce her plans by July 2.
She said: ‘Unless and until we have confidence the risk of moving away from it in certain circumstances can be mitigated, businesses and individuals must continue to comply with the two-metre physical distance rule.
‘I do understand the concerns businesses in certain sectors have about this and so I hope in the period ahead we can find a viable and safe balance.’
Making his announcement on Tuesday, Boris Johnson said he was looking forward to having a pint and urged people to enjoy themselves.
But Miss Sturgeon was more restrained yesterday. She said: ‘It is because so many people have done the right thing, and have stuck so closely to the rules, that we are now making such progress. That is what has brought us to a position where we can see a route back to living less restricted lives.
‘So please, stick with it. Be sensible and apply careful judgment. In everything we do, we should be thinking not just of our own health, but that of everyone around us.’
Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw called for the First Minister to speed up the decision on the two-metre rule. He said: ‘Many bed and breakfasts, restaurants, pubs and hotels will not be able to cope if it stays in place.
‘Indeed, one third of hotels say that they will not be opening because of it, according to the Scottish Tourism Alliance.’ Tracy Black, director of CBI Scotland, said: ‘While public health rightly remains the priority, the need for action to protect jobs and livelihoods remains urgent.’
David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: ‘This will provide some much needed confidence to non-essential stores in indoor shopping centres and malls.’
NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday announced more details of how Scotland will exit the 13-week lockdown, with some of the changes coming into effect as early as next week. Here, Political Editor MICHAEL BLACKLEY examines the upcoming relaxation of the rules, what will be opened – and what remains closed.