Cautious Sturgeon urges Scots to 'keep the heid' as country prepares for mass reopening

Nicola Sturgeon has urged Scots to stay away from pubs, cafes, restaurants and hairdressers on Wednesday if they are not willing to follow new safety rules, as thousands of businesses fully reopen for the first time in almost four months.

The First Minister apologised for being “a big wet blanket” as she refused to fully endorse a Tory campaign to encourage Scots onto high streets and into hospitality venues, instead urging the public to “keep the heid” when enjoying their new freedoms.

From Wednesday, the hospitality industry, including bars and restaurants, will be allowed to reopen indoor areas, with hairdressers, barbers, cultural attractions such as museums, cinemas and the tourism sector also able to welcome customers again.

However, ahead of the biggest unlocking of the economy since lockdown began in March, Ms Sturgeon warned the public to remain vigilant and to follow new safety guidelines, warning that a second spike in cases could lead to another lockdown.

Striking a markedly different tone to UK ministers who have urged consumers to spend, she bluntly told those who were not willing to follow rules such as handing over contact details to staff in newly reopened venues to "stay away" as they could be putting lives at risk.

A raft of other measures have been drawn up for different sectors to follow, including capacity limits and physical distancing rules, which are designed to lessen the risk of the infection spreading.

“I’d love to be at the stage where I could just say to people just crowd into the pubs and don’t worry about it,” Ms Sturgeon said. “I’m not going to say that, because I wouldn’t be doing the hospitality industry any favours if we close down again.

“I’m saying to people enjoy these freedoms that have been hard won over the past four months, but do it carefully. And if you’re not prepared to abide by the public health advice about how we do it carefully, then stay away.”

She said people should be particularly mindful that alcohol could affect their behaviour, if they visit a pub or restaurant.

“I don’t want to be the big wet blanket on people’s summer enjoyment,” the First Minister said. “But much more the case, I don’t want to be standing here in a month’s time reading out horrific figures on ICU cases, hospital admissions and deaths.

“If we’re not all really careful right now, that’s exactly what I will be doing. So I’m sorry to be that [a big wet blanket] but it’s in everybody’s interest that we keep the heid around this and do the right thing.”

On Tuesday, official figures showed there had been no new coronavirus deaths in Scotland in six days, with just three new cases identified in the daily tally.

Ms Sturgeon’s warning came as the Scottish Conservatives launched a new campaign to encourage Scots to spend money to boost newly reopened businesses.

Jackson Carlaw, the leader of the party, has called on SNP ministers to launch a mass marketing drive to encourage patrons back to local firms, although Ms Sturgeon said she favoured sending the public a more nuanced message.

Speaking after he visited the Cartvale pub and restaurant in Busby, East Renfrewshire, Mr Carlaw said: “This is a welcome and heartwarming milestone - our pubs, restaurants and hotels are fully opening up again and we are taking another step towards the new normal.

“Our campaign will highlight our wonderful local pubs and restaurants and strongly encourage Scots to enjoy our pubs safely.

“These businesses shut down to keep us safe, causing themselves enormous financial hardship and potentially jobs, it is now time for us to support them.

“So, I urge anyone who is able, to shop local, eat local and drink local – support our local pubs.”

Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon also addressed concerns from businesses that “anti-English rhetoric” was damaging them by deterring tourists from south of the border.

Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly refused to rule out imposing quarantine restrictions on people from the rest of the UK, on public health grounds.

The stance was seen as contributing to ugly scenes on the border, where Scottish nationalists in hazmat suits urged visitors crossing the border to stay out of the country earlier this month.

Ms Sturgeon condemned the protests, but has refused to commit to taking disciplinary action against any SNP members who took part.

She said that while she did not believe imposing quarantine restrictions on people from the other parts of the UK was inevitable, she would keep the option under review.

“There’s not an anti-English bone in my body,” she said, in response to a question about business concerns about anti-English rhetoric. “I come from partly English stock, my grandmother was English and I lead a party that is full of English people.

“There are many, many parts of the world right now where particular parts of countries have internal borders closed to other parts of countries because of a desire to stop this virus spreading. I think some public health experts from overseas probably look at this debate in the UK right now askance and don’t really understand why we wouldn’t be driven purely by considerations of public health.”