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Pubs within the central belt closed on Friday and should not resulting from reopen till 25 October on the earliest
Scotland’s hospitality minister has mentioned there may be “no assure” that pubs and eating places throughout the central belt will reopen in two weeks’ time.
The Scottish authorities ordered their closure on Friday night time as a part of new Covid-19 restrictions.
Fergus Ewing mentioned he was “acutely conscious” of the “very severe, hostile impacts” on the hospitality sector.
However he mentioned the restrictions have been “completely essential” and will proceed previous 25 October.
Mr Ewing advised BBC Scotland’s Sunday Politics programme: “Have been they not in place, the concern is that we might have needed to go to one thing much more stringent.
“The primary minister had made it clear that she actually needs to keep away from an additional lockdown – as does, I imagine, the management within the different elements of the UK.
“That’s completely the case. However there might be no ensures.”
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The brand new restrictions contain licensed premises in Better Glasgow and Clyde, Lothian, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley and Ayrshire and Arran being closed till 25 October – though they’ll nonetheless serve takeaways.
Hospitality venues in the remainder of Scotland are allowed to open, however are solely permitted to serve non-alcoholic drinks and meals indoors between 06:00 and 18:00.
Licensed premises in these areas are nonetheless capable of serve alcohol in outside areas, akin to beer gardens, as much as the 22:00 curfew launched in September.
Fergus Ewing accepted the restrictions have been having very severe impacts on the hospitality trade
Reacting to criticism that the hospitality sector had been handled unfairly, Fergus Ewing mentioned the Scottish authorities was following the most effective scientific recommendation.
He mentioned there have been “no absolute certainties” on the subject of establishing how an individual caught coronavirus.
However he mentioned unlawful home events or hospitality settings “the place alcohol is imbibed and inhibitions lax” seemed to be the locations the place the dangers have been best.