Level four restrictions in 11 council areas will be lifted on Friday, the health secretary has clarified.
Jeane Freeman made the statement after it appeared she wouldn’t rule out some council areas remaining under the restrictions.
She said: “Eleven local authorities currently in level four will come out of that level on Friday. That position has not changed.
“The cabinet will decide on Tuesday what level below four they’ll go into.
“My comments were intended to mean in respect of that decision, all options are on the table.”
The health secretary was referring to comments she had made on BBC Scotland when pressed on whether some areas in level four, including Glasgow and much of the west of Scotland, could remain there after the end of next week.
She had said: “All options are on the table at this point.
“People shouldn’t read from that any decision one way or the other. The works goes on over the weekend so that we have the most up to date data, the most up to date clinical advice, then we take a decision as a cabinet on Tuesday.
“The First Minister makes that announcement on Tuesday.”
In areas where there has been a level-four lockdown, non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants have been closed over the last few weeks.
The health secretary had been accused of “mixed messaging” by the Scottish Conservatives.
Their shadow health secretary, Donald Cameron, said: “This mixed messaging and confusion from the SNP health secretary helps nobody as they plan to come out of the toughest restrictions.
“The questions she was asked could not have been clearer. These restrictions affect millions of people and they deserve a clear and consistent message from SNP ministers.
“While it is welcome that the government has eventually confirmed these restrictions will end, there was absolutely no need for this speculation to occur in the first place.”
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