Sturgeon forced to publish cafe definition after closure confusion
Nicola Sturgeon has admitted to a "lack of clarity" over plans to close many cafes and restaurants across Scotland from last night, as she published new rules defining what establishments will be affected.
Cafes have now been defined as establishments which sell "non- alcoholic, drinks, snacks and light meals" as their primary business activity, in new Scottish Government regulations.
This could, though, include cafes with a liquor licence, which will be allowed to stay open if they stop selling alcohol.
The First Minister told the daily coronavirus briefing yesterday the publication of this definition "doesn't allow a restaurant to turn itself into a cafe”.
Cafe sin central Scotland with a liquor licence were initially facing closure and under the plans unveiled by Ms Sturgeon this week, but the Scottish Government later agreed an exemption allowing them to stay open from 6am to 6pm if they agreed to stop selling alcohol.
But that has resulted in confusion, with suggestions that restaurants facing closure in central Scotland from last night could be able to class themselves as cafe sand remain open if they stop serving alcohol.
"I want to address a frustration about what some see as a lack of clarity over the exemption for cafes which are being allowed to stay open, even in the Central Belt, during the day as long as they don't serve alcohol," Ms Sturgeon said.
She said the exemption was put i n place to allow cafes which may be the only one in remote towns or villages to remain open to offset social isolation.
But she insisted the broad volume establishments where people gather must close to tackle the spread of the virus.
"That's why we're not allowing premises like restaurants to dec ide to just stop serving alcohol and become cafes and stay open,” she said.
"That would undermine the purpose of these restrictions.
"But we did realise there was a potential anomaly for existing cafes that have an alcohol
licence even though serving alcohol is very, very incidental to their business.
"In some areas, particularly rural areas, they may be the only cafe in a village so we decided to try to resolve this in a very targeted way.
"In the 24 hours we have been doing so I readily accept that that has resulted in a lack of clarity, but sometimes that's the price we have to pay right now for trying to be as flexible as possible."
The First Minister insisted that most establishments would know if they were cafes or restaurants. If they are unsure, t hey should check with environmental health officers - or close to be safe.
Scotland is heading for the same levels of Covid infection as recorded during the March peak by the end of this month, the national clinical director has warned.
It came as the number of positive cases recorded in the past 24 hours hit a record 1,246, with a further six deaths. There are also now almost 400 people in hospital, the latest daily figures show.
It is hoped the latest package of measures focusing on pub and restaurant closures will arrest the rising tide of the cases and avoid a return to the spring high.
Professor Jason Le itch explained why scientific advisers had recommended t he First Minister impose the latest package of restrictions.
He warned that Scotland is four weeks behind France, where severe lock down restrictions have been reimposed after death rates soared.
The R number here is between 1.3 and 1.7, the medic added. "The doubling time in Scotland is nine days," he said.
"That means 1 ,0 00 cases today becomes 2,000 cases, with no mitigation nine days from now.
"We estimate there are 2,900 new infection per day. Remember, quite a lot of infections feel nothing or feel very mild symptoms and are not always tested.
"At this rate, with no further action, we will be at our March peak of new infections per day by the end of October."
There were 1,728 new cases in the week to Wednesday in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 943 in Lothian and 825 in Lanarkshire.
"The Central Belt is responsible for around 75 per cent of new cases," Professor Leitch said.
Across the whole of Scotland, the seven- day average rate is 82.8 per 100,000, while the 18 deaths up to this Wednesday is the same figure for the whole of the previous month.
Worryingly, the virus is reaching older Scots who are more vulnerable to death or serious illness. It has increased by 60 per cent among over- 80s and by 120 per cent in 60- to 79- year- olds in recent weeks.
"Over all this data and our investigations, our advice to the First Minister and the Cabinet was that without further action new infections were likely to continue to increase to levels that would put our National Health Service and our population at risk," Prof Leitch said.
The new guidance published by the Scottish Government today defines ac afe as “an establishment whose primary businesses activity in the ordinary course of its business is the sale of nonalcoholic, drinks, snacks or light meals".
Ms Sturgeon added: "I think business owners will know whether their establishment fits that definition or not, but any doubts or questions that any have should be discussed with local environmental health authorities."