V&A Dundee among venues closing doors as Covid-19 precaution
Libraries, museums and leisure centres in some parts of the country are shutting as a precaution amid the coronavirus pandemic.
V&A Dundee is among the venues closing its doors after the UK and Scottish Governments urged people to reduce social contact.
A second person in Scotland with Covid-19 has now died, while 195 people had tested positive for the virus by 2pm on Tuesday.
In accordance with Government advice, Stirling Council’s culture and community venues will close as of today, March 17 until further notice. This includes:
❌Libraries❌Ticket offices❌Gig venues❌Community Centres
Full information to follow shortly.https://t.co/rkofVhUVlg
— Stirling Council (@StirlingCouncil) March 17, 2020
In the Western Isles, the local authority said sport and leisure facilities, libraries and museums will close “indefinitely” by the end of Tuesday.
Stirling Council said its libraries, ticket offices, gig venues and community centres will close “until further notice”.
A Western Isles Council statement said: “Following the advice from Scottish Government that all non-essential social contact should be avoided – as a precautionary measure – all sport and leisure facilities, libraries and museums throughout the Western Isles will close indefinitely by 5pm today, Tuesday 17 March 2020.
“Harris and Lionacleit sports centres will close at 4pm. All after-school lets are also cancelled until further notice.
“It is important to reiterate that these are precautionary measures, which are being taken in order to follow Scottish Government guidelines.”
Edinburgh City Council said all events at its libraries have been cancelled though they remain open, as do museums.
📢 Following official guidance, we will close from tonight.
During these exceptional times, the health and safety of our visitors and staff is our number one priority.
We'll continue to monitor the situation closely and look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can.
— V&A Dundee (@VADundee) March 17, 2020
Glasgow Life, which operates the city’s leisure centres, museums and libraries, said it is keeping the situation under review, as are Aberdeen City and South Lanarkshire Councils.
A Glasgow Life spokesman said: “Glasgow Life continues to observe and follow Scottish Government and NHS advice.
“We are aware of the updated guidance around mass events of 500 people or more, indoors or outdoors, and will review the updated guidance and its implications.
“We will be contacting everyone affected as soon as possible.”
V&A Dundee said it will close from the end of Tuesday.
A spokesman said: “During these exceptional times, the health and safety of our visitors and staff is our number one priority.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and look forward to welcoming visitors back to V&A Dundee as soon as we are able.”
