NORTH Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire could be the first parts of Scotland to be placed into local lockdown, Nicola Sturgeon has warned. 

The First Minister made the announcement as she set out the Scottish Government’s new framework for dealing with coronavirus. 

The new system will have five levels, with level 0 being close to normal and level 4 being an  effective lockdown. 

Addressing MSPs, the First Minister said the central belt areas currently under the toughest restrictions are likely to be in level 3 initially and most of the rest of the country is likely to start in level 2.

There are however, she warned, "some exceptions under consideration."

Sturgeon said: "Firstly it is hoped that the Highlands, Orkney, the Shetland Islands, the Western Isles and Moray might go to level 1.

"Less positively we believe that the escalating situation in Dundee City makes it possible it will go to level 3 and, as has been reported, we are considering whether the very high rate of transmission and hospital admissions in North and South Lanarkshire may necessitate a move for them to level 4. 

“These are the only areas currently being considered for level four. There have however been some encouraging signs in the last few days that the situation in Lanarkshire may have stabilized slightly, so we will only take that decision if it is deemed absolutely necessary and I hope we can avoid it.”

The First Minister said the government hoped to confirm these decisions to parliament ahead of FMQs on Thursday.

“For all of Scotland our aim is to get to level one and then to level zero of the framework as quickly as it is possible to do. 

“We know this is possible because over the summer, we got to the very low levels of transmission that would be needed for that. 

“If we can do that once, we can do it again, but it will not be easy.”