Pubs and hairdressers reopen while tourism restarts

Hairdressers, pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants are now able to welcome customers indoors, as Scotland eases out of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Scotland’s hospitality and tourism sectors reopened on Wednesday as part of phase three of the route map out of lockdown, with hotels eager to welcome guests following months of closure due to the pandemic.

Alongside increased infection control measures like hand sanitiser stations, automatic doors and temperature checks, some facilities will remain unavailable such as spas and swimming pools.

Museums, galleries, monuments, cinemas and libraries are also back in business, but with precautions in place.

Hairdressers and barbers can now welcome clients as long as they follow the Scottish Government’s guidance.

Religious services at churches and other places of worship are strictly limited to a maximum of 50 people.

While churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other such centres are now permitted to hold services, these will for the moment not include communal singing or chanting.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the guidance was about “enabling such services to take place as safely as possible”.

As part of the Scottish Government’s contact tracing system, customers are expected to provide contact details so people can be tracked following any potential positive cases of coronavirus.

Speaking on Tuesday, the First Minister said: “I would make a plea to all customers to accept that, if you want to go somewhere like a hairdresser or a place of worship or to a popular restaurant, you will be asked to provide contact details.

“You should co-operate with anyone who is asking you to do that.

“In fact, if you’re not prepared to provide your contact details, my message to you is pretty blunt: don’t go to these places, because you could be putting others at greater risk.”

And as the tourism sector reopens, tourism secretary Fergus Ewing is urging visitors to be “considerate of local communities and respect those living in the area you are visiting”.

He said: “Scotland’s tourism offer is world-leading and I hope many people book staycations or even visit their local tourist attractions and restaurants as they reopen.”

Urging people to book visits in advance and cancel reservations if they no longer need them, Ewing added: “It is also so important to be considerate of local communities and respect those living in the area you are visiting, particularly by avoiding busy areas.

“We have some of the best experiences in the world here in Scotland – let’s enjoy them safely and support the strong return of our tourism sector.”