Pubs in Aberdeen ordered to close as coronavirus spike forces local lockdown

Lockdown has been reimposed in Aberdeen after a spike in coronavirus cases, with pubs and restaurants ordered to shut by 5pm today until further notice

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the strict new measures today, saying there had been 54 new cases in the affected cluster, with 191 of their contacts traced and told to isolate. Speaking at a press conference today, Sturgeon said that the lockdown "includes all bars, restaurants, cafes and pubs. "Hotel restaurants can remain open, but to provide food services for residents only, and takeaway services can continue. But all other pubs, restaurants and cafes must close." Residents have been banned from going to each other's houses, and told that they should not travel further than five miles outside of the affected area. Sturgeon said that anyone from outside Aberdeen should not visit. The local lockdown, the first to take place in Scotland, came after a weekend which saw bars in the city being particularly full. The First Minister commented that: "It could be that what we see here is a pattern which involves people going from one pub to another in the same night.

"It may be that we have to look at some of those lessons to think about whether we need to tighten up some of the restrictions about how hospitality is operating across the wider country.

The restrictions in Aberdeen will be in place for a minimum of seven days, and may be extended further. Sturgeon said that the new lockdown measures would be backed up by legislation and enforced if necessary.