The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Hospitality remaining in limbo for extra week
Tough restrictions on hospitality have been extended for a further week and could go on even longer, as industry leaders warn the decision “could be the end of Scotland’s pubs as we know them”.
Ni cola Sturgeon confirmed bars and restaurants in central Scotland will remain closed and a ban on all licensed premises selling alcohol indoors will be kept in place until November 2 ahead of the introduction of a new five-tier coronavirus alert system.
Speaking during her daily briefing, as the country recorded 28 new Covid-19 deaths – the highest since May 21 – Ms Sturgeon said it would be “premature” to lift restrictions and that do so could “undo” the work already done.
The Scottish Government will publish details of its new multi-tier restrictions system tomorrow but the first minister said she could not rule out hospitality restrictions, which were initially planned to last for 16 days, continuing beyond November 2.
The announcement prompted outrage from the sector and warnings of a looming jobs crisis.
Ms Sturgeon said that while there was “cautious optimism” that restrictions are working, the clinical advice was it would not yet be safe to lift the measures.
“I know all of this is really unwelcome, and I know that these restrictions are harsh,” she said.
“They’re harsh financially for many individuals and businesses, and they are harsh emotionally for all of us.
“But I also want to stress that we do believe these restrictions will make a difference and indeed we believe they may already be making a difference.”
The first minister said she had agreed with her cabinet that the short-term restrictions should remain in place to ensure a “smooth transition to the new system”.
The new framework will include details of financial support for businesses legally forced to close or restrict their business, which Ms Sturgeon said will be “broadly similar” to what is on offer in other parts of the UK.
But it has emerged the plans were met with immediate resistance as they were briefed to political leaders at Holy rood on Tuesday, including criticism over an apparent lack of detail provided by the Scottish Government.
Joe Crawford, director for Scotland at CAMRA ( the Campaign for Real Ale ), said the announcement had come as a “hammer blow” and without a longer- term support package, it could mean last orders for many businesses.
Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, warned businesses across the supply chain “will be absolutely devastated that restrictions now look to be in place indefinitely”.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross accused the Scottish Government of failing to use time during the closures to work with businesses “to develop ways they can reopen again with confidence”.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said the public “need clarity over what restrictions they will be living with and what support will be available to them”.
Scotland recorded 1,739 positive tests overnight into Wednesday and there were 873 people in hospital with confirmed cases of the virus, a rise of 49 in one day. Of those patients, 73 were in intensive care – a rise of three.
Ms Sturgeon said: “We do believe these restrictions will make a difference, and we believe they may already be making a difference.
“Even allowing for today’s figures, we may be seeing a reduction in the rate at which new cases are increasing.”
An evidence paper by clinical advisers said the time for the number of cases to double in Scotland had reduced from 11 days to nine. If it had continued to rise at the same rate, there should have been 2,100 new cases by October 16 but official statistics recorded 1,196 on that day.
“That would suggest the restrictions in place, the household ones to the hospitality ones, are working,” national clinical director Jason Leitch said.
“But they are working slowly – that’s why we are reluctant to move away from them.”