Tougher lockdown restrictions extended to Lanarkshire

Localised lockdown restrictions are to be put in place in Lanarkshire for at least a week, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Restrictions will be placed on meeting indoors, following a rise in Covid-19 cases.

The restrictions, recommended by the National Incident Management Team, mean that people in North and South Lanarkshire will be barred from having visitors to their homes and from visiting other households, with exemptions for those within extended household group bubbles.

Since September 4, 205 positive cases of coronavirus have been identified by Test & Protect in Lanarkshire.

This comes after lockdown restrictions in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire were continued for a further week on Monday, having first been introduced on September 1.

The area covered by the rules was extended to Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire on Monday.

Households are also prohibited from visiting homes in other local authorities not under the restrictions.

Indoor visits to hospitals and care homes are limited to essential visits only in these areas to protect the most vulnerable.

The First Minister said: "It is clearly regrettable that these restrictions need to be extended to people living in Lanarkshire.

"I understand that this will not be welcome news for people living in these areas, especially ahead of the weekend, but we must act now to protect people and get more control over the virus in the area.

"Local public health teams have looked at where cases are being identified and, by restricting indoor meetings, we are helping to protect those who are most at risk from Covid-19 - as they are more likely to be meeting others in a household setting rather than in a public setting.

"I would ask everyone in the affected areas to be extra vigilant, to follow all guidance and to isolate and book a test if they have any symptoms.

"Above all, I want to emphasise that getting a test - and even getting a negative result - is not a substitute for self-isolating. If you have symptoms, or if you are contacted by our Test and Protect team and told to do so, you will need to self-isolate.''

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