New 5-tier coronavirus restrictions outlined, as First Minister says second lockdown can't be ruled out

The First Minister has said she can’t rule out introducing the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions across Scotland in the coming weeks.

Setting out the new tiered system of measures at Holyrood, Nicola Sturgeon said moving the entire country into level 4 can’t be ruled out despite recent progress: “That could happen if, for example, cases in part of the country start to rise faster again to the extent that controlling the spread with travel restrictions will not be effective.

“Or it could happen if pressure on the NHS risks breaching capacity, not just at a local level but overall.”

From Monday the majority of people in Scotland will be placed into Level 3 of the new five-tier restrictions, with the rest of the country in either Levels 1 or 2.

During her address to MSPs the First Minister also outlined the level of Covid-19 restrictions each area of Scotland will have when the new system comes into effect.

The central belt - including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Falkirk - will be joined by Dundee and Ayrshire in Level 3.

Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Fife, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross and Angus will be in Level 2.

Highland, Moray, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have been assessed as Level 1.

Despite ministers considering putting North and South Lanarkshire into Level 4 - equivalent to a full lockdown - Ms Sturgeon revealed no area will be placed into that highest tier at the moment.

Levels 1, 2 and 3 are broadly comparable to the three levels in England.

Level 0 - which will not apply to any area on Monday - is similar to the situation in August when the virus was supressed to very low levels and Level 4 will only be used when “absolutely necessary”.

The central belt of Scotland currently has restrictions similar to Level 3, while the rest of Scotland have measures comparable to Level 2.

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs decisions to change the levels of each local authority area, if transmission of Covid-19 increases, will be put before Parliament on Tuesdays, with changes coming into force on the Friday.

The decisions will be reviewed each week and the next review will take place on November 10, coming into force on November 13.

The First Minister said it is hoped Edinburgh and East Lothian can move to Level 2 “at a very early review point”.

She stressed the decision on Lanarkshire was “borderline” and will be kept under review on a daily basis.

The First Minister also urged people to adhere to new travel restrictions from Monday.

Under the new five-tier system of restrictions, people in local authorities in Level 3 or 4 are asked not to travel outside of their local area.

Those in lower level areas have also been asked not to travel into councils in the higher restrictions.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I know travel restrictions are unwelcome and can be controversial but they are an absolutely essential part of any regional approach to tackling Covid.

“They are - unfortunately - a price we must pay for more targeted restrictions.”

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