Bingo halls and casinos close as new rules come into force

Bingo halls and casinos across central Scotland have now closed for two weeks to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Snooker and pool halls, bowling alleys and indoor gym classes have also been ordered to shut down from Saturday, October 10, following the strict changes imposed by the Scottish Government.

The rules affect five health board regions – Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Lothian, and Forth Valley.

Outdoor contact sports for those aged 18 and over is also suspended for two weeks in these hotspot areas.

Outdoor live events planned will be cancelled over the period.

The restrictions are set to last 16 days and will effectively cover the next three weekends and the next two weeks.

The latest closures come as pubs, bars and restaurants across the central belt were forced to shut up shop at 6pm on Friday evening.

Pubs were ordered to close at 6pm on Friday. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The venues are still able to offer takeaway service.

Cafes across the five health board regions are exempt from the shutdown as long as they do not serve alcohol.

Across the rest of Scotland, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes are now only allowed to operate indoors between the hours of 6am and 6pm, and are prohibited from serving alcohol. However, drinks can be served until 10pm in outdoor areas.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government was “deliberately trying” to reduce the volume of places that people come together to stem the spread of coronavirus.

She added: “So that’s why we’re not allowing premises like restaurants to decide to just stop selling alcohol, become cafes and stay open.

“That would undermine the purpose of these restrictions.”

Police Scotland said additional officers will be deployed to support the new restrictions.