Swinney warns pubs may face crackdown after fans’ celebrations
Pubs could face new restrictions after the scenes of football fans breaching social distancing rules to celebrate Scotland's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Serbia.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney warned that the current rules rules on hospitality may be "revisited" after dozen of fans in an Aberdeen beer garden embraced each other after Scotland's win in Belgrade.
And he urged the public to follow government guidance to tackle coronavirus now, so that fans could enjoy the European Championship in summer.
At yesterday’s coronavirus briefing, Mr Swinney congratulated Scotland men’s football team for their “magnificent achievement” in qualifying for the Euro 2020 finals. The victory against Serbia means that Scotland will play in the Euro 2020, the team's first time in the finals since 1996.
After the result, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Massive congratulations to Steve Clarke and the team. After 22 years, @ Scotlandnt men are off to a major tournament. What a lift for the country. Well done!”
And Mr Swinney also congratulated the Scotland side for qualifying for Euro 2020.
He admitted he was ‘ in a high state of nerves on Thursday watching the Scotland men’s football team take on Serbia.
Mr Swinney said that the win was “a real piece of bright good news for us all’ as the country remains in lockdown. He added: “After a very tough year, the team have given the whole nation a lift at a time when we really needed it and we can all now look forward to Scotland taking part in the tournament next year after such a long break from these competitions.”
H o w e v e r, M r S w i n n e y reminded people to ‘ stick with it’ and follow the government’s Coronavirus restrictions. He noted that to “to put us in the best place to enjoy” the football win “we have to suppress the virus.”
Mr Swinney said he understood fans wish to celebrate, but warned they risk spreading the deadly virus.
Asked if pubs could be forced
to close in future - in areas where the tiered system would allow them to remain open - specifically when big matches are being staged, Mr Swinney said: “We obviously keep these issues under very active review.
"We've tried to put in place proportionate arrangements for the opening of hospitality in different degrees across different levels and different arrangements exist between level two and level three.
"We're trying to be as accommodating of the ability of pubs and hospitality organisations to be open, but they've always got to operate consistent with the social distancing rules in place.
"If we don't see that happening, then obviously we would have to revisit some of these regulations because social distancing is critical in enabling us to interrupt the spread of the virus."
Aberdeen City Council and Police Scotland are investigating if Covid distancing rules were breached at the Draught Project.
Mr Swinney said he understood the "natural appetite" for fans to celebrate in the aftermath of Scotland's dramatic victory.
But he added: "The virus is a very real threat to all of our lives and communities and I've had to report today some terrible statistics about the number of deaths which have taken place from coronavirus.
"Although we're all frustrated and fed up with the restrictions and when something comes along like a magnificent Scotland team victory we all naturally want to celebrate."
The Deputy First Minister went on to read out a state - ment by NHS Grampian direct or of public health Susan Webb in relation to the fans’ behaviour.
She stated: "This virus does not rest, it does not take a minute off, much less 90 minutes, extra time and penalties.
"Letting our guard down gives it the opportunity to pass from person to person and as too many families can confirm, it can have deadly consequences."
The Deputy First Minister added: "I agree wholeheartedly with that.
"Yes we want to celebrate, but we also have to understand that following the social distancing rules and the FACTS guidance that I've set out are critical to interrupt the spread of the virus because what the virus needs, frankly, is human contact."
Mr Sw i n n e y h a d e a r l i - er praised the efforts of the Scotland team i n reaching t he Europ e a n Championship finals next summer after a penalty shoot- out win last night.
"After a very tough year, the team have given the whole nation a lift at a time when we really needed it,” he said.
"We can all now look forward to Scotland taking part in the tournament next year after such a long break from these competitions.”
He was speaking as three council areas were moved into a tougher tier of coronavirus restrictions on Friday.
He s ai d t he countr y had recorded 56 deaths of coronavirus patients and 1,357 positive cases in the past 24 hours, and stressed complying with the different regional measures is “essential” to stop the virus spreading from higher to lower prevalence areas. Angus, Fife and Per t h and Kinross moved from Level 2 to Level 3 restrictions at 6am yesterday. Restrictions eased slightly for those in the island council areas of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, who can now meet with one other household inside.