Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government have urged students to not socialise with other households or visit venues this weekend.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the plea was “an attempt to stop current outbreaks spreading further” and would just apply this weekend.
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the message was a further blow to pubs, which were subjected to a new 10pm curfew this week.
She said: “Clearly this is going to have a huge impact on pubs if a chunk of their customer-base is being told not to go out. It will further undermine consumer confidence and harm pubs that have worked tirelessly to make their venues safe and rigorously comply with test and protect protocols.”
“It is doubly unfair on those students who work in pubs and now find themselves being advised to avoid work,” Nicholls added.
More than 170 students at Glasgow University have so far tested positive, a number expected to rise after contact-tracing and further tests. Some 600 have been told to isolate.
What’s more, 500 students living in one accommodation hall in Dundee have been told to self-isolate.
Scottish pubs have implored the Government to relax restrictions which mean they cannot play music or television noise in measures to tackle aerosol transmission of the virus.
- Are you a pub in Scotland impacted by this? Let us know how your business is affected by tweeting us @morningad or emailing emily.hawkins@wrbm.com with your experiences.
