The ban on large outdoor events will be lifted from Monday in Scotland, but restrictions on indoor hospitality will continue.
These include limiting indoor events to 200 people seated or 100 people standing, and requiring table service in hospitality settings. They will remain in place until at least January 24, pending a review of data by ministers.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ”Because of the efforts we have all made - we are in a better position than I feared would be the case when additional measures were announced in December.
”And I hope we are now seeing signs of improvement. That is allowing us to start the process from Monday of lifting the additional restrictions - and I hope that next week I will be able to confirm further steps in that process.”
Responding to the announcement, UKHospitality Scotland Executive Director Leon Thompson said: “Hospitality businesses needed to hear that restrictions on them would be removed next week. Instead, whilst people will be able to attend capacity sporting events from Monday, hospitality businesses will remain bound by table service, physical distancing and nightclubs closed.
“Restrictions, combined with messaging to avoid crowded places and to stay at home as much as possible, torpedoed hospitality’s hopes for a busy festive period. Many businesses were left counting the cost when another opportunity to start their recovery was snatched away. After today’s statement from the First Minister, businesses and their workforce are left to wait a further week to hear when things might change for them. In the meantime hospitality businesses in England trade with far fewer restrictions and covid cases remain lower.
“The First Minister talked about a gradual easing of restrictions, but our sector has been closed or restricted for almost two years now. Any positivity that could be taken from possible changes on the near horizon was scuppered with further talk of vaccine passports and possible wider application. The phrase ‘living with covid’ sounds more and more like ‘living with significant ongoing restrictions’.
“UKHospitality Scotland will continue to push the Scottish Government to end its campaign of forced closures and restricted trading on our sector. The Scottish Government has produced no evidence that limiting Scotland’s most important economic sector is leading to reduced rates of covid infection. The opposite appears to be true as people simply socialise at home, away from well-run businesses and in confined spaces. There is no justification for these ongoing sanctions against our businesses.”