Nightclubs in Scotland to reopen on 24th January

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that nightclubs in Scotland will be allowed to reopen on Monday 24th January. 

Ms Sturgeon confirmed in a statement yesterday (18th January) that the easing of Covid-19 restrictions will go ahead next week after a “significant fall” in new cases of the virus.  

Attendance limits on indoor events, which forced nightclubs to close, were put in place on the 27th December in response to rising Omicron cases across the country.

Yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said that while Omicron is still infecting large numbers of people, cases have dropped significantly in the last few weeks. According to the BBC, the percentage of Covid tests coming back positive has now dropped from almost 30% at the start of January to under 20%.

Social distancing measures, mandatory table service in pubs and restaurants, and guidance against gatherings of more than three households will also be scrapped from Monday 24th. 

This phase of reopening follows the lifting of restrictions on large outdoor venues in Scotland last week. With that announcement came uncertainty concerning the date indoor restrictions would end, with Ms Sturgeon implying they may remain in place beyond the 24th. However, yesterday she said, “given the improving situation – and as I said last week we hoped to be able to do – I can confirm today that all of these measures will be lifted from next Monday 24th January.”

Work from home guidance still remains in place with the First Minister warning that, “although we can be increasingly optimistic at this stage, we must all still play our part in helping further slow the spread of the virus.”

Scottish nightclubs have welcomed the lifting of restrictions. Popular Glasgow dance music club Buff took to Instagram to announce, “Clubs are back! Full stream ahead on the good times train.”

A new Scottish festival, Otherlands, is set to take place in a Scottish palace this summer. Read about it here.