Arran cafe axes indoor dining due to island's Covid surge

A cafe has axed indoor dining due to a surge of coronavirus cases on the Isle of Arran.

The Shore Cafe has taken the cautious approach to offer a takeaway only service following a local outbreak linked to hotels.

Last week, NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Test and Protect team started contact tracing following a number of confirmed cases in the area.

The Douglas hotel is one of those affected on the island after two members of staff tested positive for the virus. It has closed with immediate effect and will not reopen until July 19 at the earliest.

A number of other businesses are also taking precautions into their own hands despite the current restrictions.

Last week, The Shore Cafe announced to customers: “A sudden upsurge in infections on Arran is requiring business to react quickly to play their part in containing the spread and safeguarding out staff, customers and community.

“Although none of our staff have tested positive, it is with reluctance that as of July 8 The Shore will be offering a takeaway service only. We are hopeful that this will be a short term measure.”

Cafe owner, Charlotte Martin, told STV News: “Because we are such a small community and news travelled fast that there are cases here, business owners are just taking a sort of a direct approach really.

“We all stay in touch and it really allows us to look at the data ourselves and make decisions that we think are morally viable to try and lower the transmission here.”