The Stewartry hospitality industry has raised a glass to the relaxing of Covid restrictions.
From the middle of next month, people will no longer be legally required to wear a face mask in shops, restaurants and on public transport – bringing Scotland into line with England.
And businesses will no longer have to keep records of their customers’ details.
Allen Henderson of Sulwath Brewers in Castle Douglas said: “It’s been a long time coming.
“It’s not going to be a great change but it’s welcome news when it comes in.
“There is mixed messaging on face coverings because we get a lot of tourists from south of the border so we’re having to say to them they still need to wear a mask here.
“We’re still in recovery from the restrictions but we welcome any type of good news.
“It lessens the restrictions just a little bit and hopefully we can build things back up again.
“It’ll mainly be an advantage in nightclubs – in our taproom bar everybody comes in and sits down, so once they have their pint they can take their mask off so it’s not going to make too much of a difference.”
Simon Jackson from The Masonic Arms in Kirkcudbright said: “It’s the best thing that could happen. People just want to move forward now and get back to normal.”
And Sandra Yates from The Laurie Arms in Haugh of Urr said: “It’s a good thing as I think customers are just getting fed up.
“They can walk up to the bar wearing a mask, sit down and can then spend two hours without it.
“We also have customers from England who come in not realising they still need to wear a mask.
“We are still socially distancing the tables so that we’re not all crushed up, even though it’s not a requirement. It means people can come out and feel safe while getting on with their lives.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the changes on Tuesday in a bid to “return to a normal way of life”.
From Monday, the coronavirus passport scheme – requiring people attending large events to show they are fully vaccinated – will end.
And from March 21, there will no longer be a legal requirement for people to wear a face covering in indoor public places, although Ms Sturgeon said it was something that she would “strongly recommend”.
March 21 will also be the end of firms having to keep a note of customer’s details.
In England, the legal requirement to wear face masks ended in January. This week Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that people who test positive will no longer be legally required to self-isolate as of today. Contact tracing is also ending, with free Covid testing for the general public finishing on April 1.
For the seven days up to February 20, Dumfries and Galloway had a case rate of 521.3 per 100,000 people – the lowest rate among Scotland’s 32 local authority areas. The Scottish average was 789.2.
