'No immediate change' for much of Scotland if levels approved

Many parts of Scotland will not see an “immediate change” to restrictions, should a new five-tier system be approved.

If the Scottish Parliament agrees the framework on Tuesday, ministers will decide later in the week what levels will initially apply in certain parts of the country from November 2.

The First Minister explained that “in broad terms” restrictions currently in place in the central belt, where pubs and restaurants are closed, are equivalent to level three and those in the rest of the country to level two.

Nicola Sturgeon said at the daily briefing: “For many places, there may be no immediate change. For an area to come down a level, we want to see a fall in the prevalence of the virus be sustained – not just seen on one or two days.

“That I think is important in giving business stability but also in giving people confidence that we are not going to take unnecessary risks when we start to lift restrictions.”

She added: “The best way of moving to a lower level of restrictions and of living more freely is to have a lower level of transmission of the virus.

“The best way we have of driving transmission lower and keeping it low is for all of us to stick to the rules that are in place at any given time.

“And that, of course, is a collective responsibility for all of us.”

The latest figures, which saw the country record 1122 positive test results, were also revealed at the briefing.

The number of patients in hospital with coronavirus has risen to 1052, an increase of 36, with 90 people receiving treatment in intensive care. Another person confirmed to have the virus has died.