Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) has urged the Scottish Government to “recalibrate” CV19 measures after research suggested that Omicron may be milder and lead to fewer hospital admissions than the Delta variant.
Russell Borthwick, chief executive at AGCC, said: “The early data on the health harm posed by Omicron has showed that hospital admissions are much lower than academics expected.
“And thanks to a herculean effort by government, the NHS and the armed forces, we are on the cusp of three million adults with booster jabs.
“The situation presented to ministers today is therefore quite different to what they faced earlier in the month. It is time for them to pause, recalibrate and look at whether the restrictions currently in place, and the additional measures from Boxing Day, remain proportionate.
“Striking a balance in the health and economic emergencies we face is not easy, and a task that few would envy. However, the data on economic harm is stark.
“Businesses are not being supported and billions of pounds have been lost at a time when hospitality and retail should be enjoying their busiest time of year. Instead of the usual Christmas boom, our city centres resemble ghost towns.
“The government needs to make clear what it requires to enable the removal of these additional restrictions at the earliest possible moment, otherwise January will be staggeringly bleak for businesses and jobs.”