TIERS OF JOY FOR OVER 3 MILLION SCOTS
Glasgow bars are f inally allowed to serve booze indoors 15 council areas drop to Level 1 with curbs further eased But fears of third wave cast shadow on move to normality
MORE than three million people in Scotland took another huge step towards normality yesterday with the further easing of Covid restrictions.
About 630,000 residents of the City of Glasgow council area moved from Level 3 to Level 2.
Meanwhile, 15 other local authority areas across mainland Scotland moved from Level 2 to Level 1, which affected about 2,400,000 people.
However, elation at being able to once again enjoy the freedoms that were sacrificed in the battle against coronavirus was tempered by new fears over rising cases and a possible third wave of infections.
Scotland’s biggest city finally moved to Level 2, allowing Glaswegians to welcome guests into their homes for the first time in months, hug their loved ones and go into a pub or bar for a drink.
Other areas across the Central Belt, including Edinburgh, remain in Level 2.
Across the rest of mainland Scotland, 15 council areas moved to Level 1 − which means more people can gather, more guests are allowed at weddings, and leisure venues, such as children’s soft play, can reopen.
However, with the further easing of restrictions came mounting concerns over rising cases.
After First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s warning on Friday that the country is entering a third wave, figures yesterday showed that 860 new Covid cases were reported − the second highest number of daily infections since February.
That figure is 132 fewer than the previous day but is 47 per cent higher than on the same day last week.
One further death was reported and 116 people were in hospital, which is an increase of 40 per cent on the previous week.
Widespread changes to the rules came into force at midnight yesterday. The most dramatic change came in Glasgow, which moved to Level 2, having been held in Level 3 for longer than anywhere else in the country.
Glasgow’s pubs and restaurants were able to allow customers back inside, as were cinemas, casinos and bingo halls.
Andy MacSween, operations manager at family-owned restaurant Ralph & Finns in the city centre, said: ‘We opened last November and since then our brand-new bar has been crying out to host people for drinks. We are so delighted that day is finally here.
‘Yesterday was the first time people were able to enjoy a glass of wine or one of our cocktails in the restaurant. We also have a whisky room which has never been used until now.’
Other bars − particularly those with no outdoor areas to accommodate customers − were also happy to finally welcome patrons back.
Paul Bray, UK area manager at the Grand Central Hotel, said: ‘Yesterday was the first day Champagne Central has been opened since October and what a joy to hear bottles popping again.
‘We are delighted that restrictions have lifted, it is great to be able to welcome guests back to the bar for long awaited catch-ups, special celebrations and champagne afternoon tea.’
Mecca bingo halls in the city have also been closed for most of the pandemic. Paul McGlinchey, general manager of Glasgow Mecca bingo, said that although there is a reduced capacity of no more than 500 customers − 25 per cent of a full house − staff are delighted to be back.
He added: ‘It feels like Christmas again. From March 2020 until yesterday, we were only open for seven weeks.
‘Bingo is a social hub and a social community – even in the big clubs like this one everyone knows each other and their families.’
Under Level 2 − which now applies
‘We are so delighted that the day is finally here’
across most of the Central Belt and in Dundee − six people from three households can meet in each other’s homes and can stay overnight. They can also hug again and do not need to socially distance in a private garden or house.
Six people from three households can also meet in an indoor public place, such as a pub or restaurant, where alcohol can be served inside until 10.30pm. Outdoors, gatherings of eight people from eight households are permitted.
Everywhere else in mainland Scotland, 15 council areas dropped to Level 1, allowing friends and families to meet in bigger crowds in homes, restaurants and gardens.
Frosty’s Soft Play Centre in Forfar, Angus, welcomed children back through its doors after losing more than £300,000 in turnover over the past year. Owner Mike Ferguson said:
‘You just have to look at our Facebook page to see the messages from all our customers saying they couldn’t wait to be back.
‘Since opening our online booking system and getting parties booked in, the sessions are filling up.’
However, he added: ‘We’ve had to remove the ball pit and things like that. You don’t have time to clean every small ball between sessions. Everything has to be wiped down between sessions and we’ve changed the times to give at least half an hour before new people come in.’
In Level 1 areas, people can meet socially in groups of up to six from three households in each other’s homes and can stay overnight. Groups of up to eight from three households can meet in an indoor public place like a café, pub or restaurant, and up to 12 people from 12 households can meet outdoors in a garden or a public place.
The Orkney and Shetland islands moved to Level 0, meaning that couples can have a maximum of 200 guests attending weddings.
At this level, eight people from four houses can meet indoors and stay, 10 people from four houses can visit hospitality venues, and 15 people from 15 households can get together outside.