Hospitality relief – but grocers can’t mask anger

It was the news the hospitality industry had been anxiously awaiting.

For many, the reduction of the twometre distancing rule to one metre will be a game-changer, turning non-viable conditions for reopening into viable.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “While sticking to two metres has clear benefits, it also has serious economic implications and an adverse economic impact we know can in turn have an effect on people’s health and wellbeing.

“When we enter phase three of the route map, which I hope will be the end of next week, we will allow exemptions for specific sectors where agreed mitigations must be put in place.

“The exemptions will allow businesses in relevant sectors, if they so choose, to operate within a one-metre distance on the condition that agreed mitigations are implemented.”

She said such measures might include improved ventilation, Perspex screens,

Today’s news means that many hundreds of businesses that had not planned to reopen may now reconsider. MARC CROTHALL, SCOTTISH TOURISM ALLIANCE

Staff are already under tremendous pressure and this will only add to this... DR PETE CHEEMA, SCOTTISH GROCERS FEDERATION

regulation of customer flow and seating plans that reduce transmission risk.

Collection of customer details to help with contact tracing could be included.

In Scotland, bars and restaurants can begin serving customers in outside areas again from Monday, with indoor service resuming on July 15 provided the infection rate remains under control.

A survey by the Scottish Tourism Alliance found 87% of restaurateurs said they would lose more than 50% of turnover, with 23% saying they could not afford to continue if physical distancing restrictions were not cut to one metre.

The survey of 394 businesses also found 85% of restaurants said it would be financially unsustainable if they were required to trade at two-metres distancing without additional support beyond the next two months, which could result in there being up to an estimated 8,900 job losses.

Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said: “The majority of businesses in the tourism sector would be economically unsustainable if the two-metre physical distancing rule remained; today’s news will mean that many hundreds of businesses that had not planned to reopen may now reconsider and plan to do so.

“It is immensely reassuring that more than 2,000 tourism businesses have already gone through the recommended UK-wide Covid-19 ‘Good to Go’ accreditation and many more are doing the same before reopening.”

The Scottish Grocers Federation has strongly criticised the mandatory face mask decision.

Chief executive Dr Pete Cheema said: “Staff are already under tremendous pressure and this will only add to this in terms of enforcing these measures in-store and with age verification.

“Convenience stores have already implemented social distancing measures very effectively and there is no evidence to show that stores are hotspots for Covid transmission.”