Covid: Scottish nightclubs ordered to close for three weeks from December 27
ITV News Scotland Correspondent Peter Smith outlines the rule changes coming in to force from 27 December
The Scottish Government has ordered nightclubs to close for at least three weeks from December 27, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said.
An amendment to coronavirus regulations published on Thursday ordered clubs to close, unless they could operate "within regulation".
New restrictions will mean that hospitality businesses can continue to operate with social distancing and table service.
Mr Swinney made the announcement before the Covid-19 Recovery Committee at Holyrood.
"Having engaged with the sector, we now propose to require that nightclubs should not operate as such for this three-week period," he told the committee.
On Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon announced new restrictions on events, which limits outdoor events to 500 people and indoor seated events to 200 people and 100 standing which will come into effect from Boxing Day.
While changes to hospitality will bring back the requirement for one-metre, social distancing between groups and table service, and come into effect from December 27.
The legislation introduced to close nightclubs has no end date, meaning the restrictions could be lifted earlier or later than first intended.
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The legislation introduced to close nightclubs has no end date, meaning the restrictions could be lifted earlier or later than first intended.
Scottish Tory Covid-19 recovery spokesman Murdo Fraser said: "This news is a further setback to a sector already on its knees as a result of previously-announced restrictions to tackle the spread of Omicron.
He added: "That's not good enough - businesses on the brink need to know now exactly what financial support they will receive, and when. The SNP Government has been given an extra £440m in assistance from the UK Government. They need to get that money out the door and into the hands of beleaguered Scottish businesses immediately."