Sturgeon warns Scotland’s bars and restaurants they may have to close

NICOLA STURGEON has warned she will target Scotland’s pubs and restaurants in new restrictions being unveiled today that could see them shut their doors later this week.

The First Minister will deliver a statement to Holyrood this afternoon detailing new national restrictions to tackle the Covid-19 second wave, after local lockdowns and a ban on indoor visits failed to reduce case numbers.

She said yesterday she wanted to give Scots “an insight” into her thinking and singled out pubs, bars and restaurants for action as they were places where “large groups” of people are more likely to form.

Hospitality businesses are already subject to a 10pm curfew but Ms Sturgeon argued that more stringent restrictions were required, raising the prospect of them closing altogether.

Speaking at her daily briefing, she said the new restrictions would not amount to a second full lockdown as there would be no nationwide travel restrictions or school closures and people would not be told to stay at home.

But, although the circuit-breaker plan was meant to provide a shock to reduce the spread of the virus, she refused to give any indication of how long the new measures would be in place. They are expected to start as early as 7pm on Friday to coincide with the school holidays in the west of Scotland, where the second wave has been most severe.

The Scottish Pub & Beer Association said her announcement had filled the sector with “complete dread” and it was “unaware of any data” showing the sector was a major cause of transmission. Emma Mcclarkin, the body’s chief executive, warned that further restrictions without economic support “would mean hundreds of businesses closing for good with thousands of jobs lost and livelihoods ruined”.

Business leaders have pleaded with her to focus on the worst affected areas rather than impose national measures, with Ms Sturgeon stating the surge in cases was “particularly pronounced” in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire and Lothian health board areas.

But she said that cases were rising “everywhere across the country” and most parts of Scotland had infection levels higher than 50 cases per 100,000. A further 800 cases and two deaths were reported yesterday.

Referring to the household visit ban, Ms Sturgeon said: “If we’re not sure that’s enough, then we have to look at the other settings in which people are more likely to come together.”