NICOLA Sturgeon has announced tough new booze bans to try and curb the spread of coronavirus in Scotland.
The fresh round of restrictions will come on October 9 and last until October 25 as part of a "brake to the virus".
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People in huge parts of the country will see their local boozers pull the shutters down while others will see pubs and bars stop serving alcohol from 6pm.
It comes as Scotland has recorded more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours for the first time.
Here's a breakdown of the restrictions in place.
BOOZE BANS
Places inside Scotland's so-called 'central belt' – Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley – will be ordered to shut their doors completely.
This will affect about 3.4million people.
Places without an alcohol license and holiday accommodation can remain open, and "financial compensation" will be offered to places which must close.
And the new rules only apply inside – people in the non-central belt area will still be able to drink and eat outside up until 10pm.
Takeaways are allowed to continue.
There was no talk of a ban on supermarkets selling alcohol after hours like in Wales.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
People living in the Central Belt are being asked to avoid public transport unless it is absolutely necessary – for example for going to school or to work, if home working is not an option.
SHOP RULES
For the two-week period supermarkets and other shops are being asked to reintroduce the two metre social distancing rule.
And one way systems should also be brought back into force.
SPORTS AND GYM
Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that contact sports for people over 18 would be axed for the next two weeks in the Central Belt regions.
An exception was being made for professional sports.
Indoor group exercise will not be allowed – but gyms can stay open for individual exercise.
OUTDOOR GIGS
Outdoor live events will not be permitted in the Central Belt for the next two weeks.
HOUSEHOLDS
There is already a ban on meeting people from outside your own household indoors in Scotland, and people still should work from home if they can.
Scotland’s mini-lockdown – what are the rules?
CENTRAL BELT:
- Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley have extra restrictions – covering 3.4million people
- Pubs and bars have to close – both indoors and outdoors
- Takeaways are still allowed
- Hotels can remain open, and cafes
- But hospitality faces a 6pm curfew
- Contact sports for people aged 18 and over suspended for 2 weeks
- Indoor group exercise activities not allowed
- Outdoor live events banned for two weeks
- People should avoid public transport unless absolutely necessary
- No need to cancel half term breaks but stay local if you can
- Gyms remain open but only for individuals
- Snooker and pool halls, indoor bowling alleys, casinos and bingo halls will close for two weeks
OUTSIDE CENTRAL BELT:
- For 16 days from this Friday at 6pm to Sunday 25 October, inclusive, indoor hospitality will have to shut at 6pm
- Hotels can operate restaurants but only for residents – and with no alcohol
- Outdoor hospitality can continue to serve alcohol outside up to 10pm
- Exceptions for life events like weddings already booked, and funerals
- No need to shield but take extra care if vulnerable
Ms Sturgeon's move will pile on pressure for Boris Johnson to do the same for parts of the North West and North East where infection rates have been skyrocketting in recent weeks.
He's said to be mulling whether to shut pubs and hospitality venues there too to try and clamp down on cases.
Ms Sturgeon told the nation today that Scotland is likely to return to the peak of the coronavirus as seen in the spring, by the end of October if no action is taken.
Scotland is four weeks behind France and six weeks behind Spain, she said, urging people to "please stick with it" on the rules.
She added: "We need to do more, and we need to do it now."
Any Scottish measures are likely being weighed up by Government ministers in England too.
Pubs and restaurants face closure in Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak scrambling to put together a local bailout package for businesses facing ruin.
A “white-faced briefing” from senior medics at Downing Street about soaring virus numbers in the North West and North East has prompted the PM to delay his plan to replace complex local lockdown rules with a simpler traffic light system.
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