A hospitality group boss has warned on national television that Ayrshire's pub and restaurant lockdown will send people to house parties where there are no measures in place.
Kenny Blair, Managing Director at Buzzworks Holdings which runs 12 venues across Ayrshire, repeated a claim made by NHS Ayrshire and Arran - that the virus is being spread through households mixing in homes.
He told ITV's Good Morning Britain (GMB): "What they’re doing to hospitality is driving people into house parties where’s there’s none of the measures that we have.
"There’s no test and protect no track and trace, there’s no cleaning, there’s no segregation, there’s no face mask when moving about."
Yesterday, the Scottish Government announced the closure of indoor and outdoor licensed businesses across Ayrshire and the central belt.
People in Ayrshire are also advised not to leave the health board area and to only use public transport when they have to.
On Monday, Lynne McNiven, NHS Ayrshire and Arran's Director of Public Health, said that information from the local Test and Protect team showed the virus is being spread through households mixing.
'Well-run hospitality is a safe place to socialise.'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 8, 2020
Pub and restaurant owner Kenny Blair says closing hospitality venues will actually drive people to house parties where they will be less safe. pic.twitter.com/V9TZsMBe9M
She said: “So, we need to make sure we are all following the Scottish Government guidance. In particular, do not meet people from any other households in your home or another person’s home socially, unless they are in your extended household.”
Mr Blair, whose venues reopened on July 15, said the business had served over 300,000 customers but had only two confirmed cases of the virus in that time.
He said in both instances public health officials told him there had been no onward transmissions in Buzzworks venues.
He told GMB: "Which goes to show well run hospitality is a safe place to socialise. We don’t think we’re part of the problem, we think we’re part of the solution.
"It’s a massive loss of revenue, over a million, we cant just shut down and open up businesses without a significant sum, we reckon £150,000 and not to mention the suppliers and our staff who are very fearful."
From 6pm tomorrow, Friday, all licensed pubs, bars and restaurants in Ayrshire will be closed to all but takeaway customers and will not open for 16 days.
READ MORE: Ayrshire in effective coronavirus lockdown along with central belt
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