Shoppers in Inverness city centre undeterred by virus despite concerns over the rise of the latest Covid-19 Omicron variant
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Some Christmas shoppers and festive revellers have been undeterred from visiting Inverness city centre despite concerns over the rise of the latest Covid-19 variant.
Last week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged caution and the need to cut down on unnecessary social contacts in the run up to Christmas and limiting social gatherings to three households in a bid to halt the spread of the more transmissible Omicron strain.
Ms Sturgeon also urged people to get vaccinated.
However, during last weekend including the night known locally as “Mad Friday”, people still felt confident enough to venture into the city centre to visit shops, bars, cafés and restaurants.
Businesses have pulled out all the stops to make sure premises are as safe as possible, while open.
Colin Craig, the vice chairman of Inverness Business Improvement District who runs Oil and Vinegar in Union Street, said they had a good weekend, adding: “We are doing all that we can and people have been very understanding.”
He said there were plenty of people out and about in the city centre over the weekend and they were being sensible and following the Covid safety precautions.
Michael Freeman, who runs the Panasonic/Euronics shop in Academy Street, said things had been busy but had quietened down for him in recent days – but that was to be expected as people moved on from larger purchases and concentrated on other items such as festive food.
He said: “Trade has been good this year. It has been steady which is what we like. Since we joined Euronics there is a lot more we can sell to folk now, it is not just TVs, it is big household appliances. But I would say the city centre feels quieter and for Christmas week it is much quieter than usual.
“When we talk to our customers, everybody feels pretty positive in coming into the city centre and I feel folk are still happy to come here. Our end of the street has got a bit of life about it.”
Billy McKechnie, who runs Rose Street Foundry in Academy Street, said Friday had been quieter than last year and he felt people were spreading their socialisation into other days – by not sticking to the weekend.
He said: “People are shopping a lot more carefully and they are still coming out. They are not coming on those set busy days and people are avoiding overcrowding. It was not Mad Friday like it was last year.”
Bruce MacGregor, of MacGregor’s Bar in Academy Street, said trade had been good but they were still getting cancellations. He said: “It is probably 50 per cent on what we would have anticipated. There was still quite a good atmosphere with people that were out. We were still busy but without the madness, which is maybe not that bad.”
