Scottish hospitality to face midnight curfew as restrictions ease from 19 July

All parts of Scotland are to move to level 0 on 19 July, but hospitality is to face a midnight curfew along with other restrictions.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that the mandatory wearing of face coverings will remain in place "for some time".

She said Scotland was easing restrictions but not abandoning them due to the spread of the Delta variant of coronavirus.

It means that from 19 July hospitality venues in all parts of Scotland will be required to close at midnight, rather than in line with local licensing hours as originally proposed.

Sturgeon claimed this was due to hospitality being a higher-risk environment later in the evening. She said: "This reflects the fact that indoor hospitality, despite the sector's sterling efforts – and I want to pay tribute to those – does remain a relatively risky environment, particularly late at night when people might be less likely to follow rules."

Pub and restaurant customers will no longer be required to pre-book two-hour slots to visit, but will still need to provide contact details and to wear facemasks.

Up to 10 adults from four households can meet in indoor public places such as restaurants and pubs, with a one-metre distance between households groups.

Up to 15 people from 15 households can meet outdoors, but with a one-metre distance between other groups.

A maximum of 200 people can attend weddings and funerals, but people are still advised to continue working from home.

Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, welcomed the move to level 0 but said more support was needed for businesses continuing to trade under restrictions.

He said: "Again, today's announcement had nothing on financial support for Scotland's hospitality businesses which are now set to fall further behind businesses in England.

"A new package of support can make the difference between survival and closure for some businesses."

It is still expected that Scotland will move ‘beyond level 0' on 9 August, but the government will provide an update the week before.

After this point close contacts of people who test positive for coronavirus will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are double-vaccinated with at least two weeks since their second dose and they have a negative PCR test.

From 19 July people arriving from countries on the amber list will no longer be required to self-isolate provided they are fully vaccinated through a UK vaccination programme and take a PCR test on the second day after arrival.

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