Skinandi's nightclub in Thurso delays opening 'until more young people vaccinated' despite Covid restrictions easing
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The owner of a Thurso nightclub has decided to keep his doors shut until more young adults are fully vaccinated.
As many nightclubs in Scotland opened their doors again at the weekend, Skinandi's in Thurso is to remain closed until September.
Owner Brian Cardosi said he felt delaying reopening until most over 18s have had their second vaccine was the right thing to do.
Describing the wearing of masks in the nightclub as a "fiasco" he said: "Its just a complete farce. It is difficult to stop people from congregating together on the dance floor – you are never going to keep people apart."
Mr Cardosi questioned how operators could police the restrictions that were still in place with customers having to wear masks while moving around the premises, however he hopes that these issues will be rectified by the time he opens.
His main concern is the problems likely to be caused through track and trace if customers and staff, who have not yet had their second jab, had to isolate after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid.
"This means every second weekend we may not be able to open," he said. "Therefore unless things change Skinandi's will reopen around the 18th of September. Hopefully a large percentage will have been vaccinated by then and the risk of transmitting will be much less."
Mr Cardosi pointed out that any closures would have a knock on effect with people not being able to go to their work.
"For the sake of a few weeks it is better for everybody," he said. "I think it is a fair and ethical thing to do."
He explained that both the medical surgeries in Thurso are giving over 18s their second vaccine at the end of August or beginning of September and the delayed opening will provide the necessary two-week period required by the government where people do not need to isolate if they come into contact with a positive case.
The nightclub owner announced his decision on the club's Facebook page on Friday and said he had not received any negative comments.
Admitting that the extended closure would be harder on him financially, he continued: "At the end of the day it saves hurting everyone else. What is another month now?"
Numbers may need to be limited when the doors open at Skinandi's again for the first time in September.
The popular local nightclub has been closed since March 20 last year – 17 months – and the owner is grateful for all the financial support he has had so far, without it he said he would not be reopening. However, with nightclubs throughout Scotland able to open at midnight on Sunday, Skinandi's will no longer qualify for support.
As Scotland moved beyond level zero on Monday, self-isolation rules have changed for fully vaccinated people, from two weeks after their second dose – they no longer need to isolate for 10 days unless they test positive themselves.
