NICOLA Sturgeon did not move any council area into the highest tier of restrictions in her first review of the framework aimed at bringing down levels of infections of the virus.
However, during her statement to Holyrood on Tuesday she warned that close attention was being given to ten local authorities, all which cover large and for the most part densely parts of the country.
She listed Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, West Lothian and West Dunbartonshire, as well as Inverclyde and Stirling (and to a lesser extent South Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire) as all giving cause for concern either because of the high number or the sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.
READ MORE: Covid Scotland: Large parts of Scotland may be moved to Level 4 next week
Here are the figures for the last seven days (from November 1 to 7) for the number of new cases in those areas and the level of the virus per 100,000 population.
Glasgow: New cases 1,987; cases per 100,000 288.3
North Lanarkshire: New cases 914; cases per 100,000 267.7
South Lanarkshire: New cases 924; cases per 100,000 288.3
West Lothian: New cases 329; cases per 100,000 179.7
West Dunbartonshire: New cases 176; cases per 100,000 197.9
Inverclyde: New cases 122; cases per 100,000 156.8
Stirling: New cases 148; cases per 100,000 157.1
South Ayrshire: New cases 193; cases per 100,000 171.4
Renfrewshire: New cases 523; cases per 100,000 292
East Renfrewshire: New cases 223; cases per 100,000 233.4
The First Minister told MSPs that in areas such as Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, West Lothian and West Dunbartonshire the number of coronavirus infections had "stabilised at a stubbornly high level".
In these areas she said that "the difficult question we must consider in the next days is whether more time in Level 3 will start to reduce cases in these areas, or whether that will require more action".
She also said there were some areas under Level 3 restrictions which were seeing a "sharp rise in cases" – adding ministers were "particularly concerned" about the situation in Inverclyde and Stirling and, to a lesser extent, South Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.
While she said the expert advice was that "an immediate move to Level 4 would not be merited" she said these places would be monitored closely "on a daily basis".
The First Minister said: "Given the severity of the Level 4 restrictions, we will not take a decision to move any part of the country to that level lightly.
"But nor will we shy away from it if we think it necessary to limit the damage the virus can do."
She added: "These are difficult decisions and the week ahead is a particularly crucial juncture."
A decision whether to move any or all of these areas into Level 4 will be announced by the First Minister in Holyrood next Tuesday with any changes taking place the following Friday.
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