CORONAVIRUS restrictions in Scotland which saw the closure of pubs and restaurants in the central belt and a 6pm indoor hospitality curfew elsewhere are to be extended until November 2, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The Scottish Government will publish a tiered system of restrictions on Friday, Sturgeon said, and it will come into effect on November 2.

Restrictions put in place two weeks ago on hospitality businesses were due to end on October 26.

The First Minister said that while there is “cautious optimism” that the restrictions are working, Scottish ministers were told by advisers that it would not be safe to lift the measures from Monday.

The First Minister said: “The extension allows us to transition more smoothly to the new levels system that we hope will be introduced on November 2.”

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A restriction against meeting inside other people's homes will also continue until November 2 at least.

The First Minister said she understands the extension of coronavirus restrictions is “harsh” financially and emotionally.

She told the briefing: “I know all of this is really unwelcome and I know that these restrictions are harsh.

“They are harsh financially for many individuals and businesses, and they are harsh emotionally for all of us.

“I want to stress again that none of these decisions are being taken lightly – this is all about trying to save lives and minimise the health damage that we know this virus is capable of doing.”

Sturgeon said the Scottish Government believes the restrictions, which have curbed the operations of hospitality businesses, are having a positive effect.

She said: “Even allowing for today’s figures, we think that we might be starting to see a reduction in the rate at which new cases are increasing.”