Lockdown review as Nicola Sturgeon considers stricter rules in parts of Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon will confirm today the latest weekly review of Scotland’s five-tier covid restrictions for the run-up to Christmas.

Sturgeon expressed concern yesterday about the infection rate in the Lothian region, including Edinburgh.

And public health officials recommend a return to level 3 of the rules for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Last week’s review saw the end of the higher Level 4 restrictions in Glasgow and much of West Central Scotland. It has not yet been suggested that level 4 can be re-imposed today.

The Prime Minister previously said she wants today’s review to be the last one before Christmas, when the rules are relaxed for five days starting on December 23.

Public health experts are concerned about the relaxation, but Sturgeon has already signed the plan for the whole of the UK.

Yesterday, Sturgeon advocated keeping Edinburgh at level 3, preventing pubs from selling alcohol.

She said, “It would not be a sensible thing to ease the restrictions. It would be like pouring gasoline on smoking coals.

Sturgeon said cases are also increasing in Midlothian, at level 3, and in East Lothian, which is currently at level 2.

The outbreaks are causing concern among public health officials in the Northeast.

“These are not easy decisions,” Sturgeon said yesterday.

“It would be much easier if it were a simple algorithm, but it is not. We have to apply a lot of judgment in the most correct way possible to stop the deterioration of the situation.”

The decisions are made as London tightens its restrictions and fears mount about a new strain of coronavirus in south-east England.