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Covid in Scotland: Shutters come down on pubs and restaurants in central belt Covid in Scotland: Shutters come down on pubs and restaurants in central belt
(32 minutes later)
Pubs and restaurants across the central belt of Scotland are preparing to close for the final time in at least two weeks.Pubs and restaurants across the central belt of Scotland are preparing to close for the final time in at least two weeks.
After they shut their doors at 18:00, they will not reopen until 25 October at the earliest.After they shut their doors at 18:00, they will not reopen until 25 October at the earliest.
It comes as the Scottish government finalises details of a £40m support package for businesses forced to close.It comes as the Scottish government finalises details of a £40m support package for businesses forced to close.
There will be a tightening of rules across the rest of the country but licensed premises can remain open.There will be a tightening of rules across the rest of the country but licensed premises can remain open.
Police Scotland said additional officers would be deployed to ensure premises comply with restrictions.Police Scotland said additional officers would be deployed to ensure premises comply with restrictions.
The Scottish government plans to help businesses with a £40m package which includes support for employment, a cash grant for each business and a discretionary fund for local authorities.
Ministers were waiting to hear details of the UK's plans to help affected employees before laying out the details of their scheme.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said people who work for UK firms forced to shut by Covid restrictions will get two-thirds of their wages paid by the government.
He also announced increased grants for business in England - a move the UK government says will lead to £1.3bn in additional funding for Scotland.
However, the scheme is due to start on 1 November - a week after the latest Scottish restrictions are due to end.
Scotland's Finance Secretary Kate Forbes welcomed the move but called for more clarity on "what it covers in terms of health, transport and business support".
The new restrictions come into force as six further Covid deaths were confirmed by the first minister in her daily briefing.The new restrictions come into force as six further Covid deaths were confirmed by the first minister in her daily briefing.
She said 1,246 positive tests had been recorded and the number of Covid patients in hospital was continuing to increase.She said 1,246 positive tests had been recorded and the number of Covid patients in hospital was continuing to increase.
"The restrictions which come into force today are significant, but the case numbers we have seen in recent weeks - including, increasingly, the figures for people being hospitalised - show why they are necessary," Ms Sturgeon said."The restrictions which come into force today are significant, but the case numbers we have seen in recent weeks - including, increasingly, the figures for people being hospitalised - show why they are necessary," Ms Sturgeon said.
"We have to stop the virus from spreading further. And having already restricted meetings between households in each other's homes, the most important additional step we can take is to restrict meetings in bars and restaurants.""We have to stop the virus from spreading further. And having already restricted meetings between households in each other's homes, the most important additional step we can take is to restrict meetings in bars and restaurants."
About 3.4 million people in five health boards - Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lothian, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley and Ayrshire and Arran - are to be subject to the strictest restrictions. Financial support
The Scottish government plans to help businesses with a £40m package which includes support for employment, a cash grant for each business and a discretionary fund for local authorities.
Ministers were waiting to hear details of the UK's plans to help affected employees before laying out the full details of their scheme.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said people who work for UK firms forced to shut by Covid restrictions will get two-thirds of their wages paid by the government.
He also announced increased grants for business in England - a move the UK government says will lead to £1.3bn in additional funding for Scotland.
The scheme is due to start on 1 November - a week after the latest Scottish restrictions are due to end. But employers should be able to use the existing furlough scheme until the end of October.
Scotland's Finance Secretary Kate Forbes welcomed the move but called for more clarity on "what it covers in terms of health, transport and business support".
The measures were described as "good news" by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
But its chief executive, Liz Cameron, warned they were not enough to offset the impending loss of trade and jobs.
"We need governments to focus on enabling business to continue to freely function, and manage our way through this situation," she said. "This stop-start approach is damaging for business."
'A significant impact on transmission rates''A significant impact on transmission rates'
About 3.4 million people in five health boards - Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lothian, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley and Ayrshire and Arran - are to be subject to the strictest restrictions.
Licensed premises will have to close for 16 days although they can still serve takeaways.Licensed premises will have to close for 16 days although they can still serve takeaways.
Cafes with a licence have been told they can remain open as long as they do not serve alcohol but there is confusion over what constitutes a cafe.Cafes with a licence have been told they can remain open as long as they do not serve alcohol but there is confusion over what constitutes a cafe.
Hospitality venues in the rest of Scotland will be allowed to open, but will only be permitted to serve non-alcoholic drinks and food indoors between 06:00 and 18:00.Hospitality venues in the rest of Scotland will be allowed to open, but will only be permitted to serve non-alcoholic drinks and food indoors between 06:00 and 18:00.
Licensed premises in these areas will still be able to serve alcohol in outdoor areas, such as beer gardens, up to the 22:00 curfew introduced in September.Licensed premises in these areas will still be able to serve alcohol in outdoor areas, such as beer gardens, up to the 22:00 curfew introduced in September.
Ms Sturgeon said: "These measures still allow for some social contact in cafes during the day. And they do not prevent people from taking half-term holidays which have already been booked, or from going ahead with weddings which have already been planned.Ms Sturgeon said: "These measures still allow for some social contact in cafes during the day. And they do not prevent people from taking half-term holidays which have already been booked, or from going ahead with weddings which have already been planned.
"But for a period of just over two weeks, they will remove some of the major opportunities the virus has to spread. That should have a significant impact on transmission rates.""But for a period of just over two weeks, they will remove some of the major opportunities the virus has to spread. That should have a significant impact on transmission rates."
The restrictions have been criticised by the wider hospitality sector, which has warned of large-scale job losses.
Alan Rimmer is the co-founder of Glasgow Beer Works, a small producer which relies on businesses like pubs and restaurants.
"If they can't trade we can't trade effectively. We have lost orders this week," he said.
"There has to be extension of the 100% business rates relief to include the supply chain such as small producers like us, wholesalers and distributors who are critical to the hospitality industry."
Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said the £40m financial support should be directed at those most directly affected by the hospitality closures.
"But we need ongoing support," he said."The industry, let's be honest, is on its knees. In the Scottish pub and bar sector we could be talking about 25,000 job losses."
Meanwhile, Police Scotland revealed that in the week up to 4 October officers broke up 271 illegal house parties, issued 106 fines and made 18 arrests.Meanwhile, Police Scotland revealed that in the week up to 4 October officers broke up 271 illegal house parties, issued 106 fines and made 18 arrests.
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