Glasgow city stays in level three for at least one more week

Glasgow City remains in level three until at least next week.

The First Minister delivered the news this afternoon during a Covid-19 briefing.

The First Minister said that while case numbers in the city are "uncomfortably" high, there are signs both positive tests and the rate of people in hospital with the virus are stabilising.

It's as Covid case numbers today have reached a 2-month high at 641 new cases in the last 24 hours.

Nicola Sturgeon says a move into Level 2 right now would be premature, but said Glasgow would move down to Level 2 from next Saturday if the current figures remain good.

It comes after Glasgow businesses hoped for a move to level 2 in time for the bank holiday weekend.

The First Minister said: "My message to the people of Glasgow is don't lose heart, on the contrary, take heart from the progress that we are seeing," she said.

"I live in Glasgow, so I know how hard this is from my own personal life, but please continue to help with all of the public health efforts that are in place because if we continue to do this then we will make that move down from Level 3 to Level 2 and then after that hopefully get back on track and down the levels further."

Billy Gold, owner of Hielan Jessie Bar in the Gallowgate, said: "I'm obviously very disappointed that we're not moving to level two - looking at the figures, I wasn't shocked.

"I do think that the fact we've got some kind of indicative date is hopeful, but I'm absolutely gob smacked - that's us lost the bank holiday weekend.

"It's difficult to think that people can go to areas very close - North Lanarkshire, Rutherglen, a five minute bus ride from the east end of Glasgow.

"You're watching your customers on a bus or in a taxi passing your door to go to other places."

The First Minister said a decision would be made by Wednesday at the latest on whether the city can move to Level 2 next Saturday.

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