Swinney’s pub warning

Scotland must suppress coronavirus to be in the “best place” to enjoy qualifying for the delayed Euro 2020 Championship in the summer, the deputy first minister has said.

John Swinney said the national men’s football team reaching their first major tournament since 1998 with a penalty shootout win over Serbia in Belgrade has “given the whole nation a lift at a time when we really needed it”.

However, he said rules on the sale of alcohol in pubs could be reviewed if social distancing measures are repeatedly breached.

Footage showing revellers hugging and dancing on tables at a pop-up pub in Aberdeen emerged following Scotland’s win.

He said: “We try to put in place proportionate arrangements for the opening of hospitality to different degrees across different levels and different arrangements exist between level two and level three so we are trying to be as accommodating of the ability of pubs and hospitality organisations to be open.

“But they have always got to operate consistent with the social distancing rules that are in place, if we don’t see that happening then obviously we would have to revisit some of those regulations, because social distancing is critical in enabling us to interrupt the spread of the virus.”

The return of students to university in January will most likely be staggered to try to prevent a repeat of the September spike in coronavirus transmission, Mr Swinney added.

Scotland recorded 56 deaths from coronavirus and 1,357 positive cases in the past 24 hours.

The death toll under this measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – is now 3,244.

The daily test positivity rate is 5.7%, down from 6.1% on Thursday.

A total of 79,017 people have tested positive in Scotland, up from 77,660 the previous day.

Of the 56 Scottish deaths recorded in the past day, six occurred in Tayside and

Fife.

Of this number, two were in Dundee, two were in Fife, one recorded in Angus and one in Per th and Kinross.

There are 1,228 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, a rise of 21 in 24 hours.

Of these patients, 96 are in intensive care.

Mr Swinney also warned disruption to medical supplies and potential coronavirus vaccines as a result of Brexit cannot be ruled out.

John Swinney said there was “anxiety” about the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31.

On Thursday, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he is “confident” a nodeal Brexit will not delay supplies and stressed that contingency measures were also in place.

The Pfizer vaccine, which the drugs company announced is 90% successful at preventing Covid-19, is being manufactured in Belgium.

Mr Swinney said: “We have seen the developments of the arrangements that are in place to deal with the consequences of Brexit but none of us are certain about what those arrangements will be.

“So I think the honest answer to your question is there must be anxiety that there is the potential for disruption to medical supplies as a consequence of Brexit.

“That was one of the critical risks that the Scottish Government identified when we looked at the possibility of a nodeal Brexit scenario.”

Westminster Transport Secretary Grant Schapps yesterday ruled out disruption, saying there is a “back-up to the back-up” to prevent any hitches.

REGULATIONS: John Swinney has said alcohol sale rules for pubs could be reviewed if distancing rules are breached.