GLASGOW businesses say they are “devastated” that the city will be kept in lockdown for another week, following the First Minister’s announcement.
The city is the only place in the UK under strict restrictions, which include no alcohol allowed indoors, as case numbers are still “uncomfortably high”.
The First Minister said cases of Covid in Glasgow rose by around 30% from 112 people per 100,000 of the population to 146. While test positivity, which was hovering around the 4% mark, is now around 4.4%.
It is expected that Glasgow will move down to level 2 on Saturday 5 June, if cases and rates of hospitalisation remain stable.
However, businesses who had been gearing up for restrictions to ease were unhappy with the announcement and asked for further financial support.
Dr Liz Cameron OBE, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “There were many anxious businesses across Scotland waiting to hear the decision of the First Minister today, with Glasgow’s consumer reach extending across Scotland with thousands of daily visitors and tourists.
“The impact of this extended closure will be even more devastating for crisis hit businesses in Glasgow, as many were looking forward to opening their doors to take advantage of the upcoming bank holiday on Monday. We need government, at both Holyrood and Westminster, to now step in to provide a level of meaningful financial support if we are to save jobs and livelihoods.”
Andrew McRae, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Scotland policy chair, said: “Glasgow businesses are getting used to these weekly Friday disappointments. This one is all the more galling because it looks like Monday will see Glasgow basking in the sort of gloriously sunny Bank Holiday that could have helped small hospitality operators recoup some of their losses.
“The First Minister did suggest there might be light at the end of the tunnel next week – and breaking the Friday-for-Monday announcement cycle will give business owners a little more notice. It’s very difficult to run a business, or plan your family finances, when you need to tune into the lunchtime news on a Friday to find out if you’ll be working on the Monday.
“The businesses and employees hardest hit by these ongoing restrictions need proper support now. The Glasgow hospitality industry was given two days to scrap their re-opening plans. But even now, after two weeks, we still don’t have adequate financial support measures in place. That needs remedied as a matter of urgency.”
Paul Waterson, spokesperson for the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said that he welcomed the decision to move Glasgow to level 2 would be on Wednesday. He added: “However, it’s bittersweet for the many pubs, bars and other licensed hospitality businesses who are still in limbo and missing out on the May bank holiday weekend trading that so many operators had hoped for and with the weather forecast promising sunshine.
“The First Minister, during yesterday’s briefing, told Glasgow ‘don’t lose heart’ but these are pretty hollow words as the impact of staying in Level 3 has a much wider impact for Scotland and the country’s tourism industry.”
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