Setting out plan to remove restrictions
University’s study comes under fire from industry
Scotland is to eventually see a return to the levels-based system as the country continues to chart its course out of the coronavirus lockdown.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlined a number of indicative dates as part of a phased re-opening of various sectors of society in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday this week.
The first phase of the ‘route map’ started on Monday this week and saw a return to in-school learning for youngsters in nursery, pupils in primaries one to three and a select number of senior pupils.
Ms Sturgeon said the second phase, which is unlikely to start before March 15, will include a further phased return for universities and colleges, the return of non- contact outdoor group sports for 12 to 17 year- olds and a partial relaxation of socialising rules to allow outdoor meetings of four people from two households.
The third phase, potentially from April 5, will see the stay-at-home message lifted and a full return for school pupils, as well
as the partial resumption of communal worship, a slight increase in the amount of people permitted to attend outdoor social gatherings and the start of a gradual re-opening of some retail outlets.
A more substantial gear change could take place from April 26 when the tier system is set to be re-introduced.
This will see more retail premises return, as well as some elements of the hospitality industry and other services such as gyms and those involved with the hair and beauty industry.
However, Ms Sturgeon cautioned that the stages will be reviewed in three-week periods and are still subject to change depending on the Covid-19 infection rate.
Moving back to the variable levels system will also be contingent on the country having vaccinated everyone in groups one to nine of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority list – something which is hoped will be complete by the middle of April.
Ms Sturgeon said: “There is quite a limited scope for the easing of restrictions.
“Most importantly we will see what impact the re-opening of schools will have on transmission.
“We do need to exercise care and caution and must get the virus to as low a level as we can.
“The more of us who are vaccinated and the more we all stick by the rules now, the faster that safe pace is likely to be – if we all stay in this together, our progress will be greater.
“We will set out more detail in midMarch on the indicators that will guide our decisions on levels, as well as on any revision to the content of each level – taking account of our experience and of sectoral views – and the order in which we expect those parts of the economy that have been restricted to start re-opening.”
Findings of a university study which said pubs pose a significant risk in terms of spreading Covid-19 have been labelled “insulting” to the hospitality industry.
The recently-released report compiled by academics at the University of Stirling raised doubts over whether pub operators can effectively and consistently prevent coronavirus transmission.
According to the study, researchers observed risks in 29 licensed premises between May and August last year for up to two hours while posing as customers.
The study notes that venues had made physical and operational modifications when re-opening following lockdown restrictions being partially lifted.
However, researchers found that practices were variable and a number of incidents of “greater concern” were observed.
These included close physical interaction between customers and staff, which frequently involved alcohol
intoxication and were rarely effectively stopped by staff.
The study – published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs – will inform governments, public health experts, and policy-makers in the UK and other countries as they consider the impact of the pandemic on hospitality and the risks of lifting restrictions.
The university has since come in for criticism from the hospitality industry,
with the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) claiming the research was at odds with UK-wide surveys and was “flawed”.
Kayleigh Keith, who co- owns The Tower gastro pub in Crieff as well as Stirling pub Nicky Tams with partner Craig, feels the study was “insulting” to the hospitality industry.
She added: “It was also an insult to research standards,” she said.
“They only had 29 pubs sampled and only in the Stirling area in what is a small sample base.
“It is careless to put that out in to the public to say that, when the public are already sceptical about going out as it is.
“The amount of money spent on the industry to keep customers safe [is high] and the study will make people think that rules were not being adhered to.
“Pubs are more safe than going in to someone’s house, where there are no safety standards set and people let their guard down.
“The research passed by what the hospitality industry has done to help make it as safe for people as possible.”
Kayleigh also pointed out that while the study took place from May to August 2020, pubs only re-opened for outdoor service on July 15, meaning studies during the live working environment only lasted around six weeks.
She added: “There was also the Eat Out to Help Out scheme that came in August which was pushed by the government.
“So it was us that had to manage with that massive influx of people who were encouraged to eat out.”