A RISE in positive coronavirus cases has led to new partial lockdown restrictions being imposed in and around Glasgow. Nicola Sturgeon last night announced a two-week ban on visiting other households for people in the city and beyond.

A rise in cases has led to the restrictions in Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire.

The rules will be in place for a two-week period but will be reviewed after one week. They could be lifted then but the Scottish Government also warned it has not ruled out extending restrictions if necessary to protect public health.

The First Minister announced that from midnight last night, people should not host people from other households or visit other households, except in emergencies or to care for someone.

Members of different households can continue to meet outdoors, including in gardens, and in pubs, cafes and restaurants, provided all existing guidance is followed.

Those households who have formed an extended household and people providing care and support, for example caring for an elderly

family member or delivering shopping, can continue to meet indoors with enhanced hygiene measures in place.

The restrictions also affect hospital and care home visits.

Care home visits will only be conducted outside and hospital visits will be limited to essential visits only.

And if any member of a household is identified as a close contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case then that entire household must also quarantine themselves for 14 days.

Sturgeon said the increase in cases seen over the last week could not be ignored. She said: “If they rise further, people will fall ill. If we don’t stem this tide, we could see virus run out of control again.”

She added: “The rise in new Covid-19 cases in all three of these local authority areas is of significant concern and these figures remind us all that the virus has not gone away. We are at a stage of this pandemic where we must all act with extreme caution.

“I understand this will not be welcome news for people living in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire but it is necessary to help us limit the spread of Covid-19. Acting now gives us the time and the space to protect people and get more control over the virus.”

The restrictions do not affect schools, which remain open, and plans for the opening of colleges and universities remain in place.

The First Minister reported 154 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours in yesterday’s daily figures, with 66 of those cases in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS area.