MASKS UNTIL NEXT YEAR
Anger as new guidance says restriction will stay in force
SCOTS will be legally obliged to wear masks in public places until at least next year under an extension of the Scottish Government’s coronavirus restrictions.
Working from home will also remain the default position for non-essential office workers until 2022.
The measures have been revealed in new guidance published as Scotland prepares to take another step away from restrictions.
From tomorrow, the country moves out of Level 0, meaning almost all of remaining restrictions are being dropped.
Social distancing will be ended as well as mandatory self-isolation for close contacts of Covid positive cases.
Late-night venues can re-open and revellers will be free to flock to festivals.
But the news that masks and working from home are to remain until next year sparked a row.
The Tories accused the First Minister of being ‘secretive’ by publishing the guidance without a public announcement. Annie Wells, Scottish Conservative health spokesman, said: ‘Instead of being honest and up-front with the public, Nicola Sturgeon has adopted a sleekit and secretive approach.
‘She probably knows herself, people will be furious when they find out her plan to prolong strict Covid restrictions into 2022.’
In guidance issued on Friday night explaining the latest move out of the levels system, the Scottish Government set out the longterm plans to keep restrictions.
It said: ‘We anticipate it may be necessary to keep some precautionary measures in place until early 2022, in order to help manage the increased pressure the NHS will face over the winter period. However, we will review the position every three weeks to ensure any measures remain necessary and proportionate.’
Only days earlier, Ms Sturgeon hailed the ‘careful and steady approach’ the Scottish Government had taken.
Speaking about the easing of restrictions, she said: ‘This change is significant and it is hard-earned. The sacrifices everyone has made over the past year and a half can never be overstated.’
From tomorrow, only those who test positive after being identified as a close contact of a positive case must self-isolate, and there will be no need for social distancing and no limit on the number of people who can meet.
Removing these restrictions is a positive step for struggling sectors such as wedding venues.
Duncan McConchie, founder of the Scottish Wedding Industry Alliance and owner of GG’s Yard in Dumfries and Galloway, said although required to be worn during the ceremony, masks are not mandatory while dancing, during drinks receptions or drinking at the bar.
He said: ‘We still have fears that the responsibility for compliance lies solely with the venues or responsible people.’
Del Cotton, owner of agency Hireaband, said musicians were the first to feel the impact and among the last to see restrictions eased. He said: ‘As the agent for many of Scotland’s busiest wedding and ceilidh bands, I can’t emphasise enough the huge relief we’re all feeling at the news masks won’t be required on dance floors.’
With dancing allowed from one minute past midnight tonight, revellers are set to enjoy nightclubs once again. The industry was hit hard by the pandemic and venues have remained closed since the first lockdown was announced last March.
Mike Grieve, chairman of the Night Time Industry Association Scotland, said: ‘Whilst we still have some concerns about the practical implications of maskwearing in late-night venues, these generally sensible relaxations of the restrictions hopefully arrive in time to save Scotland’s world class nightlife from financial Armageddon.
‘With the long-awaited guidance now issued by the Scottish Government, we can at last plan for a return to business as usual.’
Outdoor gatherings of more than 5,000 and indoor of more than 2,000 still need permission.
Early next month, the Riverside Festival will take place in the grounds of Glasgow’s Riverside Museum. Dave Clarke, codirector of the festival, said: ‘After a year and a half without live music, knowing we’ll be able to give everyone the return to festivals they deserve is an incredible feeling.’
And 50,000 music fans will flock
‘Sturgeon has adopted a secretive approach’ ‘Some measures in place until early 2022’
to Glasgow Green for the TRNSMT festival next month.
But Linda Crooks, chief executive of the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, said that the venue will continue to operate with onemetre distancing.
She said: ‘We’re taking very careful and measured steps in building our practice back up again – and that’s how it has to be in order to get everyone safely back to work, reassuring our audiences in August in Edinburgh and across the country that they can lose themselves in the joy of sharing live performance, and we are doing everything possible to make sure they’re safe.’
CalMac announced it is to increase capacity on its ferries to normal levels tomorrow but it still urges passengers to book ahead.
Families of care home residents, however, are still concerned about a lack of visiting and contact with loved ones. Care Home Residents Scotland said that of 1,042 homes reported to them in feedback, only 245 offered daily visits.