First Minister announces new Covid restrictions for health boards outside of those with further measures

Whilst pubs and restaurants in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Lothian, and Forth Valley are told to close - those in other areas of Scotland will still see new restrictions come Friday at 6pm.

The measures come into force at 6pm on Friday for 16 days until October 25th.

Hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants will not be allowed to serve any alcohol indoors, and they'll have a curfew of 6pm.

They will, however, be allowed to serve alcohol outdoors up until the existing 10pm curfew.

Scotland's First Minister revealed the “difficult but important temporary measures'' aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus in a statement at the Scottish Parliament.

She said the prevalence of the virus across Scotland is currently around 13% of its March peak, but the case number is estimated to be growing by 7% each day.

Ms Sturgeon warned that without taking action, the country risks “returning to the peak level of infection by the end of the month.”

Ms Sturgeon apologised for the “significant impact on many premises'' the restrictions will have and announced a £40 million fund to help affected businesses.

The First Minister stressed the changes do not amount to a new lockdown such as that imposed in March and schools will remain open, with no requirement for people to stay inside their homes.

Scotland recorded 1,054 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, according to figures published shortly before Ms Sturgeon's parliamentary statement.

The record high figure was published by the Scottish Government from Health Protection Scotland data.

One further death of a patient within 28 days of first testing positive for the virus was registered in the past 24 hours, taking this total to 2,533.

The new cases represent 13.0% of newly-tested individuals, down from 13.2% on Tuesday.

Of the new cases, 410 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 195 in Lanarkshire and 190 in Lothian.

Meanwhile the five central belt health boards areas will see the following restirctions:

• All licensed premises - with the exception of hotels for residents – need to close indoors and outdoors. Takeaways still allowed. Cafes which don’t have an alcohol license will be able to stay open until 6pm to support social isolation.

• Snooker and pool halls, indoor bowling alleys, casinos and bingo halls will close for two weeks from 10th October.

• Contact sports for people aged 18 and over will be suspended for the next two weeks – with an exception for professional sports.

• Indoor group exercise activities will not be allowed – although the current rules will remain in place for under 18s. Gyms can remain open for individual exercise.

• Outdoor live events will not be permitted for the next two weeks.

• People should avoid public transport unless it is absolutely necessary – for example for going to school or to work, if home working is not an option.

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