Pub curfew and no home visits under new Covid rules ‘Deeply disappointing’for newly-reopened premises
Residents in Stirling will not be allowed to visit other households from today after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced tighter lockdown measures in the fight against coronavirus.
Pubs, bars and restaurants have also been slapped with a 10pm curfew, coming into force from Friday.
It comes after the number of positive cases and the number of hospital admissions across Scotland have seen a sharp rise in recent weeks.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (Tuesday), the FM said: “From Friday, pubs, bars and restaurants will be required to close at 10pm.
“Now, people sometimes ask me why we don’t just close pubs again altogether - and I can understand that.
“The answer - to be frank - is that we are seeking to find a balance between action to suppress the virus and the protection of people’s jobs and livelihoods.”
She said the decision means that the amount of time people are able to spend in licensed premises will be cut, thereby “curtailing the spread of the virus”, while still allowing businesses to trade and provide jobs.
She added: “Further restrictions, including possible closure, will be unavoidable if the rules within pubs and restaurants on hygiene, face coverings, table service, maximum numbers in groups, and the distance between them are not fully complied with.”
Following the announcement, Paul Waterson, owner of Stirling
Golden Lion hotel and former chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: “We are bitterly disappointed about these measures being taken. We had hoped that they wouldn’t be.
“We know that in UK terms five per cent of transmission is through pubs and bars. There are very strict rules on it. Pubs are a safe environment where adherence takes place as much as we can. And to close at 10pm, we don’t think that will help.
“Under old licensing laws people went to parties after closing time and made their own entertainment and that’s what will happen here.
“This is another lockdown because many places won’t be able to trade now. It hits, not only operators’ confidence, which is very low as it is - desperate in some cases – but also customers’ confidence.
“The vast majority of publicans are making things as welcoming for customers as they can – and support the Scottish Government in much of what they have done.”
Andrew Mitchell, from the Kilted Kangaroo in Upper Craigs, said: “My guys have worked tirelessly reopening and relaunching our two large units and hoped we were getting back to some form of normality.
“The latest announcements are deeply disappointing and will inflict further misery on an already troubled industry. Hopefully the government are in a position to extend the furlough scheme for the duration of the latest restrictions.”
Speaking in parliament yesterday Ms Sturgeon said that the advice given to the Cabinet by the Chief Medical Officer and the National Clinical Director is that those restrictions on their own “will not be sufficient to bring the R number down”.
The First Minister added she is “determined to keep schools open and young people in education” and stressed the importance of restarting as many previously paused NHS services as possible.
She added that there was therefore a need to halt all indoor gatherings across Scotland - in line with restrictions already in place in the West of Scotland.
The First Minister added that there will be exceptions for those living alone, or alone with children; for couples in non-cohabiting relationships; for the provision of informal childcare and for tradespeople.
She said: “Those new restrictions apply to people’s homes - in other words, to private indoor spaces. Rules for meeting other people in public indoor spaces that are subject to strict regulation and guidance, remain the same.”
In her address to parliament yesterday, the First Minister revealed that there had been an additional 383 cases of Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours.
That represents 7.6 per cent of the people newly tested, and takes the total number of cases to 25,009.
We are seeking a balance between action to suppress the virus and the protection of people’s jobs Nicola Sturgeon
There was one recorded death over the same period, taking Scotland’s death toll to 2506.
Stirling MSP, Bruce Crawford said: “The new restrictions on the hospitality sector and household gatherings will no doubt be difficult for people and for businesses too. I urge everyone to follow the public health advice and social distancing guidance so that we can get through this period of tackling the outbreak as quickly and by saving as many lives as possible.”
Stirling MP Alyn Smith added: “These will not be welcome new measures, but they are crucial in helping us all to keep each other safe. Please do follow the rules, the more we stick to them, the sooner we can return to a new normal.”