Restaurants face a bleak Christmas following the advice to cancel festive parties.
Lanarkshire Live has spoken to a number of firms who fear the new Omicron variant could deal a devastating blow to business.
It comes after the First Minister warned of a possible "tsunami" of cases involving the new Covid variant, and Public Health Scotland urged people not to go to Christmas nights out.
The fear is that businesses are struggling after Nicola Sturgeon backed last week’s appeal from Public Health Scotland to defer Christmas parties.
The hospitality industry now faces a tough Christmas period, with many customers trying to cancel their nights out and parties.
A spokesperson for The Bistro in Rutherglen said: “We’ve had a number of very late cancellations, which is devastating for a small business like ours.
“Over the last two years, we have been open six months and now people are cancelling right, left and centre.”
The Bistro isn’t alone, with many restaurants around Lanarkshire and Glasgow facing cancellations at what should be their busiest time of year.
Cinnamon, an Indian restaurant in Cambuslang, has had similar problems.
A spokesperson said: “The announcement has affected us and sadly we have had many cancellations.
“We hoped for a good festive business season but unfortunately it’s not looking like that.”
Some businesses have also chosen to cancel nights out due to the volume of call offs they are receiving.
One local woman said: “Normally, around 60 of us go on a night out, but only 30 of us chose to go this year. The majority of the group still intended to go, but the venue chose to cancel it.”
A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council said: “Following the advice issued by Public Health Scotland, and the First Minister’s announcement on Friday, the council issued a memo to all of our staff reinforcing those messages.”
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said that she understood that the advice will make it difficult for businesses.
She said: “I know that it will have a big impact on hospitality businesses across Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
“However, Covid is already having a serious effect on public services so we need to act quickly to reduce transmission of the Omicron variant of the virus.
“Over the past week, dozens of trains have been cancelled due to Covid, while many A&E staff at a local hospital are isolating after becoming infected at a social event.
“I appreciate additional protective measures will sadly cause economic harms which is why the Scottish Government is pressing the UK Government for financial support, like earlier stages of the pandemic. However, we also know that not acting will damage the economy too.
“Please follow the advice and re-arrange work Christmas parties to be held in local venues, to support them, when possible.”
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