Hospitality venues and nightclubs enjoy latest Covid easing as cases fall continues

Hospitality venues across Stirling are enjoying the first few days after the loosening of Covid restrictions as local case rates continue to plummet.The latest easing - which came into effect from Monday - included the re-opening of nightclubs for the first time since Boxing Day, as well as the removal of crowd limits for large indoor events such as concerts.The need for table service and one-metre social distancing was also given the chop in the wake of growing optimism about the state of the pandemic in Scotland following the Omicron surge over the festive period.Health chiefs have expressed optimism that cases across the country are now in decline, with the peak set to have taken place in the opening week of January.This picture is reflected in the latest case data from Stirling with a combined 109 positive PCR and LFD cases recorded on January 24 across the local authority area.In comparison, a total of 302 positive PCR tests were racked up in the city three weeks earlier on January 4 - and this figure does not take into account the numbers testing positive on lateral flow kits during this period.Stirling’s high point for case rates appear to have come before Christmas - with record levels of 333 and 328 positive tests recorded on December 28 and December 29 respectively.As the local picture with the virus improves, measures restricting visiting at Forth Valley Royal Hospital have also been loosened - much to the relief of family and friends hoping to see loved ones.NHS Forth Valley introduced the restrictions around a fortnight ago, with only visitors deemed as ‘essential’ under various criteria permitted to visit the hospital as efforts continued to ease the pressure on local services.However, the health board