Cautious welcome as end of Covid restrictions in sight
● August finish for social distance rules, but ‘too late for some firms’
Business groups have warned a target date set for Scotland to be free of Covid restrictions may be too late for firms struggling to stay afloat.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPS yesterday her aim was that all major restrictions would be lifted in early August, as she confirmed that lockdown easing would be paused for three weeks to allow more time for people to be vaccinated.
Mainland areas will not move to the lowest level zero restrictions until 19 July, with the remaining rules set to be lifted on 9 August, which Ms Sturgeon said would allow life to return to "almost complete normality".
Andrew Mcrae, policy chair for the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland,said much of the business community would be left in a “holding pattern” until mid-next month.
He said: “Scotland’s business community will be locked in a holding pattern until at least mid-july. But the new late summer dates for the further winding down of restrictions offer firms a landing zone for which to prepare.
“Ministers are right to try to plot Scotland’s course toward greater normality, but the lifting of restrictions does not guarantee recovery for firms, especially those saddled with new debt.
"That’s why we want to work with the Scottish Government to develop a small business recovery plan to help local firms across the country get back on their feet.”
News that physical distancing
requirements outdoors and indoors are likely to be removed by August 9 will come as a boost to the entertainment and arts industry as well as football clubs, with strict restrictions on attendances set to be lifted.
Nightclub owners could also see their premises open for the first time since March last year, with hospitality businesses able to open in full to customers.
The timing of the relaxations is intended to mirror the vaccination programme, with Ms Sturgeon stating the majority of Scots over the age of 30 will have received both jags by August 9.
She said all adults in Scotland would receive or be offered both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine by September 12 – the first firm target date for that milestone.
But the First Minister confirmed no changes to restrictions for the next three weeks, meaning the majority of Scotland will remain in level one restrictions. The majority of the Central Belt, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, will remain in level two until July 19.
Ms Sturgeon also announced a shift in the Scottish Government’s strategy in dealing with Covid-19. Officials will now move away from a suppression strategy whereby it was hoped Covid-19 cases could be pushed as low as possible and instead move towards attempting to “suppress the virus to a level consistent with alleviating its harms while we recover and rebuild for a better future”.
The shift in strategy will allow the government to lift restrictions even if Covid-19 case numbers continue to grow due to the dominant and more transmissable Delta strain of the virus, provided hospitalisations and deaths continue at a low level.
Cases of Covid-19 have been steadily rising since early May with transmission believed to be driven by the new Delta variant.
A total of 2,167 new cases of Covid-19 were reported yesterday in the previous 24 hours, with 9.1 per cent of all tests returning a positive result.
Four new deaths were reported on Monday, with 18 people in intensive care and 171 in hospital.
A total of 3,664,571 people have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, with 2,602,753 having received their first dose.
From July 19, all of Scotland will move down to level zero, which will see the limits on the number of people allowed to socialise indoors increase to eight people from four households in a private home, with that rising to ten people from four households in a public place.
A total of 15 people from 15 households will be allowed to meet outdoors from the same date.
Hospitality businesses will also be allowed to open according to local licensing laws rather than be forced to close early, with all adult indoor contact sport also permitted.
Minor changes around the number of people allowed at weddings and around pallbearers at funerals were also announced.
Physical distancing will also be reduced from two metres to one metre as part of the relaxation of restrictions.
However, from August 9, the First Minister said an almost complete lifting of Covid-19 restrictions would take place should vaccinations continue to limit the number of people in hospital or dying from Covid-19.
She said the Scottish Government plans to “lift the major remaining legal restrictions”, pending a review of the data closer to the date.
This could see a complete removal of the legal requirement to socially distance, Ms Sturgeon said, but with the continued requirement for face coverings in shops and public transport.
The SNP leader said the government would not seek to advise in favour of an immediatereturn to in-office working, with businesses set to consult on when office working can be reintroduced once Scotland is in level zero.
Travel restrictions to restrict the ability of new variants to be imported will continue, with further measures for education settings such as schools and universities to be reviewed ahead of the new term.
The levels system will also be available to the Scottish Government should there be any major local outbreaks.
Ms Sturgeon said the reduction of serious illness seen through vaccination allowed the Scottish Government to lift restrictions.
She said: "While transmission is causing concern at the moment, vaccination is giving us much of the protection that only harsh restrictions have been able to give us so far.”
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “This new framework falls short of giving the clarity that people and businesses need to get on with their lives and plan for the future.”
Paul Waterson, spokesperson for the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: “There are still challenges and we remain concerned that being unable to open without restrictions means that businesses cannot trade at full capacity.
"It is absolutely crucial that the one-metre social distancing rule is dropped as soon as possible to allow premises to increase customer capacity.
“For those still unable to open because of their size or the entertainment they provide [...] the situation is even more serious.
"So we continue to call for further financial aid to ensure the survival of the licensed hospitality industry.”