SCOTS will find out today which level of coronavirus restrictions will be placed on the area where they live under a new five-level system being introduced on Monday.

The framework has been unanimously passed in Holyrood, with the lowest severity of curbs “0” being close to normal and “4” approaching lockdown.

People in North and South Lanarkshire are facing moving immediately onto the highest level with the potential for tough travel restrictions and the closure of all non-essential shops and hospitality. Hairdressers, gyms, libraries and visitor attractions would also have to shut.

Much of the rest of the central belt may be put on the next highest level 3 where some current hospitality curbs are eased. Pubs and bars were closed earlier this month across the region, but under level 3 they can open both indoors and outdoors but they are not permitted to serve alcohol. Last entry must be at 5pm with premises closing an hour later.

Other parts of the country such as the Highlands and Islands may be placed on lower levels – though none will be placed on level 0.

Speaking at the daily briefing in Edinburgh yesterday, the First Minister said the process for deciding the different levels for areas is “not easy”.

Nicola Sturgeon also accepted there are “encouraging signs” coronavirus infections in Lanarkshire could be stabilising.

Speaking about the “severe” restrictions in level 4, she pledged: “We will only use it if we think it is really necessary to get dangerously high levels of transmission that are threatening to overwhelm the NHS down in a quick and decisive manner.”

The development comes as cases of the virus continue to surge. The First Minister announced a further 28 deaths from the virus and said the number of positive cases in Scotland had passed 60,000, including 1202 in the previous 24 hours.

Separate figures from the National Records of Scotland – which record all deaths registered in Scotland when Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate – show the number of fatalities stands at 4482, up 106 on the previous week’s figures.

Leaders in Lanarkshire have pleaded with the Scottish Government not to put their areas in level 4 – warning they could have “potentially catastrophic impacts” on local businesses.

North and South Lanarkshire Council’s leaders joined forces with the local NHS boss and police chief to argue against the possible imposition of level 4 measures, asking for the areas to be put on level 3.

They argued “the very rapid growth in cases is clearly slowing down” and it is “highly likely that this is a consequence of the increased restrictions previously imposed on hospitality and other sectors”.

The development comes as leaders of Perth and Kinross Council are reported to be concerned their area could have the same level of restrictions as Dundee City Council, which is facing being put on level 3 – despite a lower number of cases.

Sturgeon stressed final decisions on the levels that will be imposed have not yet been reached.

She said: “Government has to reach these decisions and they are not easy decisions but they have to be taken by somebody.”

The First Minister insisted ministers “do not want to put any part of the country into level 4 if it is not absolutely necessary”.

She added: “I very much hope that tomorrow we will not be putting Lanarkshire into level 4.”

Earlier, national clinical director Jason Leitch said it would be too risky to allow any area to be at level 0.

Giving evidence to Holyrood’s Covid-19 Committee, he said: “The present position of the senior clinical advisers in Scotland is that no area in Scotland is ready to get to level 0 because of the state of the pandemic nationally.” As well as case numbers, the capacity in the area’s intensive care units is also taken into account when deciding on levels.