Johnson objects to reintroduction of two metre rule

It has been announced by the First Minister that a series of new Covid-19 restrictions which will come into force this weekend, will include reimposing the two metre rule on customers entering Scotland’s 22,000 shops.

From this weekend, shops across Scotland are asked to return to two metres physical distancing and also reintroduce the mitigations they put in place earlier in the pandemic, including one-way systems.

Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, in objecting to this said:“Shop workers have been on the front line from day one of this outbreak, so the announcement from the First Minister at such short notice will come as a shock to many.”

“The justification for a reimposition of many measures, without any evidence to show shops are a major source of infection, will be a cause for concern for the thousands of retail staff across the country.”

“Having put in such an effort and performing the public health functions asked of them by the Scottish Government, the retail sector deserves to be treated with more care and attention and provided with any support them deem necessary.”

The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced yesterday to The Scottish Parliament that the following new rules will be put in place in Lothian:

  1. All licensed premises will be required to close, with the exception of takeaway services
  2. Cafés (unlicensed premises) which don’t have an alcohol licence will be able to open between 6am and 6pm
  3. Takeaways (including from pubs and restaurants) can continue
  4. Evening meals may be served in accommodation for residents only but no alcohol can be served
  5. Specific life events, such as weddings and funerals, may continue with alcohol, with current meeting rules for these events (20 person limit in regulated premises only)
  6. No group exercise classes for indoor gyms and sports courts, pools with an exemption for under 18s
  7. No adult (18+) contact sports or training, except professional sports, indoor or outdoor
  8. No outdoor live events
  9. Snooker/pool halls, indoor bowling, casinos and bingo halls are to close
  10. Public transport use should be minimised as much as possible, such as for education and work, where it cannot be done from home
  11. Current meeting rules, maximum of six people from two households, continue to apply