Nicola Sturgeon will announce today whether tougher restrictions are needed in Scotland to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Speculation has mounted in recent days the Scottish Government is considering extending the covid vaccine passport scheme to include more venues.
But business leaders have claimed almost two-thirds of firms are opposed to the measures being considered, fearing they could “place thousands of firms and jobs at risk”.
A total of 65% of companies surveyed for Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) were against vaccine passports being used more in the hospitality and leisure sectors, together with increased home working and greater use of face coverings.
The poll, which almost 700 firms took part in, also found that a quarter (24%) of businesses face “severe financial consequences” if vaccine passports and home-working measures are widened.
The First Minister and her cabinet will consider if such further restrictions are necessary when they meet on Tuesday, with Sturgeon to update Holyrood on their decisions in the afternoon.
Speaking ahead of that, SCC chief executive Liz Cameron warned: “Any reintroduction of restrictions will act as a painful economic deterrent for businesses across Scotland.
“We urge ministers not to take a massive step backwards in our economic recovery from the pandemic which would place thousands of firms and jobs at risk.”
Cameron insisted: “It is critical that our economic recovery does not lag behind that of competitors across the globe.
“Going backwards at this stage will put our recovery at risk, create further uncertainty and undermine consumer confidence.”
She added: “If restrictions are to be reintroduced under legislation, then companies will of course be forced to accept them, but ministers must urgently outline the evidence for these decisions, detail what financial support the Scottish Government will make available to affected sectors and provide an end point to burdensome restrictions.”
Her comments come after Scotland’s chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith warned recently that the country was “now in a period of growth of Covid-19 cases again”.
John Swinney revealed last week that Scottish Government is considering extending the vaccine certification scheme – already in place in nightclubs and at other large events – to more parts of the hospitality and leisure sector.
The deputy first minister stressed a decision has not yet been made but said Covid-19 was at a “concerningly high level” and Scotland is in a “precarious and unpredictable” position.
He added that ministers were also considering steps to increase home working and “whether changes are needed to extend use of face coverings”.
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