NICOLA Sturgeon has announced tough new lockdown restrictions focused on Scotland’s hospitality sector as part of a “short, sharp” package of action aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus.

The First Minister warned the virus would be “out of control” by the end of this month without action, as she announced that in the five regions across central Scotland with the highest number of cases, licensed premises will have to shut for a 16-day period. Outlets can still operate on a takeaway basis.

This strict regime – the toughest in the UK – will apply in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Lothian, and the Forth Valley health board areas, with an exemption for hotels serving residents.

In other areas, pubs and restaurants will only be able to open indoor spaces between 6am and 6pm and will be barred from serving alcohol there – though they can sell drinks outside until 10pm.

READ MORE: Scotland's Covid ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown rules: What they mean for you

The First Minister promised a £40 million package of support for the hospitality sector, although business leaders have already warned this may “not be enough to stop a tidal wave of closures and job losses”.

The restrictions come as figures showed 1054 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in the previous 24 hours – the highest daily total so far north of the Border.

The new measures will come into force from 6pm tomorrow, with Sturgeon saying it is the Scottish Government’s “firm intent” that they will remain in place until Sunday, October 25.

Speaking at Holyrood, she said: “These new restrictions will last for 16 days. They are intended to be short, sharp action to arrest a worrying increase in infection.

“However, although they are temporary, they are needed.

“Without them, there is a risk the virus will be out of control by the end of this month.”

The new restrictions will not apply at weddings which are already booked, or at funerals.

The First Minister insisted the changes do not amount to a return to the strict lockdown imposed in March as she stressed schools will remain open and there is now no requirement for people to stay inside their homes.

But she said: “Significantly restricting licensed premises for 16 days temporarily removes one of the key opportunities the virus has to jump from household to household.”

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She added the move is an “essential part” of efforts to get the R number – the average number of people each person with Covid-19 passes the virus on to – back below 1. A scientific paper by the Scottish Government’s medical advisers, published just ahead of the First Minister’s statement, put the R number at up to 1.7, the highest in the UK.

The measures were announced just over two weeks after Scots were barred from going into other people’s homes. Sturgeon promised a further review of coronavirus testing in Scotland, to expand capacity and “extend testing to more people without symptoms”. She also announced contact sports for adults aged 18 and above are being suspended for the next two weeks, apart from for professional sports. Indoor group exercise activities are no longer allowed, though gyms can remain open for individual exercise.

Meanwhile, Scots in the five health board areas that are worst affected are being asked not to travel by public transport unless “absolutely necessary”, and to avoid visiting anywhere outside the area in which they live.

However, the First Minister said: “We are not imposing mandatory travel restrictions at this stage, and specifically, we are not insisting that people cancel any half-term breaks they have planned.”

The advisers’ report warned that at the current rate of growth, the number of infections would be at the level of the March peak by the end of this month if action wasn’t taken.