Soaring levels of Covid infections meant that new restrictions were inevitable.
The Scottish Government had already banned social visits to people’s homes, but the measure didn’t control the virus.
Nicola Sturgeon had signalled that the hospitality sector was in line for more curbs and industry figures were braced for bad news.
According to her plan, licensed premises in five health board areas will shut for a 16-day period, apart from takeaway services.
In other parts of the country, pubs and restaurants will only be able to open indoor spaces between 6am and 6pm and will be barred from serving alcohol there.
No wonder Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group, described the announcement as a “death sentence” for many businesses.
The £40million package of support for the sector announced by Sturgeon is widely welcomed, but there was a disappointing lack of detail attached to the big number.
If businesses are going to lose custom, and they will, they deserve to know how much support they will receive and when.
However, the real focus should be on the UK Government and its terrible decision to wind down the furlough scheme.
The hospitality sector is a special case and the Chancellor should have extended the scheme for pubs and restaurants.
If thousands of pubs go to the wall, Boris Johnson's Government must take full responsibility.
