A TIERING system is set to be introduced in Scotland, subject to the approval of Holyrood, replacing temporary coronavirus restrictions in place across the country.
It will indicate which level of regulations apply when the temporary restrictions end on October 25.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the new framework will “strengthen our resilience to live with this virus” and will detail support for businesses in the future should they be the subject of further restrictions.
It comes as the latest Government figures show a further 15 people have died with coronavirus in Scotland.
The number of people to die after testing positive for Covid-19 is now 2609, the Scottish Government said.
Over the last 24 hours 1167 new cases were recorded, representing 17.6% of people newly tested.
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There were 675 people in hospital yesterday with coronavirus, an increase of 46 on the previous day. There were 62 people in intensive care with the illness, up by four.
Of the new cases, 435 were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 346 were in Lanarkshire, 114 were in Lothian and 103 were in Ayrshire and Arran.
Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes outside central Scotland can only conduct indoor business between 6am and 6pm and not serve alcohol, although alcoholic drinks can be served until 10pm in outdoor areas.
Pubs and licensed restaurants in five health board areas – Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Lothian, and Forth Valley – have been forced to close for all but takeaway service until October 26.
Snooker and pool halls, indoor bowling, casinos and bingo halls have also been made to close and no outdoor live events are allowed in these five areas.
In terms of seeing friends and family, people cannot meet others from another household in indoor household settings across Scotland unless they are part of an “extended household”, available to people who live alone or only with children under 18.
People can meet outdoors in groups of up to six, not including children under 12, from no more than two households, and a maximum of six people from two households can meet in indoor hospitality settings, such as pubs and cafes.
Sturgeon has also advised Scots against travelling to high-risk areas of England, singling out Blackpool as “associated with a large and growing number of Covid cases in Scotland”.
Meanwhile, more than half of England is now under tougher coronavirus restrictions after the severest measures came into force in Lancashire on Saturday, while Londoners are now banned from meeting other households indoors.
A new three-tier system of coronavirus restrictions began on Wednesday.
Nationwide restrictions apply in Tier 1, which mean people can meet in a group of up to six people from multiple households either indoors or outdoors. Unlike in Scotland and Wales, the six includes children.
Pubs, bars and restaurants must close at 10pm and face coverings must be worn while shopping, on public transport and in other indoor areas.
Under the Tier 2 restrictions, people cannot meet with anyone they do not live with indoors unless they are part of a support bubble, while the rule of six applies for socialising outside.
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The most severe level of restrictions, Tier 3, means people cannot socialise with anyone outside their household in any indoor and many outdoor settings. Pubs and bars will be forced to close unless they can operate as a restaurant.
Weddings and funerals will be allowed to take place with restrictions on the number of guests, but wedding receptions are banned.
Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region are the only two areas of England under Tier 3 restrictions, meaning 3.1 million people are living under the toughest measures.
In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said the Welsh Government will be meeting over the weekend to discuss a circuit-breaker lockdown and will announce any decisions on Monday.
Currently, there are tighter restrictions in 17 areas of Wales, including Cardiff.
In Northern Island tighter coronavirus restrictions announced by Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster came into force on Friday.
Pubs and restaurants have been closed for four weeks, with the exception of takeaways and deliveries, while schools will close on Monday for two weeks.
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