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Tighter restrictions prohibiting home visiting in the west of Scotland have been extended for another week.
The measures cover 1.75 million people living in and around Glasgow.
Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged everyone living in the areas to follow the rules in a bid to “have more control over the virus.”
The restrictions apply in the City of Glasgow, East and West Dunbartonshire, North and South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.
People living in the seven areas cannot host other people within their home or visit someone else’s home anywhere in Scotland.
The announcement comes on the same day that lockdown restrictions across the country were tightened, and meetings are now limited to a maximum of six people from two households.
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The Scottish government said that reported Covid-19 cases were higher than average in all seven council areas, although an “early assessment” suggested tougher measures were “working to curb the increase in cases.”
The prime minister said it was “clearly regrettable” that the restrictions should continue, but said that “we must act to have more control over the virus in these areas.”
Sturgeon said: “I would ask everyone in the affected areas to continue to be more vigilant, to follow all instructions and to isolate themselves and reserve a test if they have any symptoms. Do not lose ground now.”
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The only exception to the bar at indoor gatherings is for those in extended homes, while only essential indoor visits are allowed in hospitals and residences.
People from two different households can still meet outdoors and in hospitality settings, as long as groups do not exceed six and more extensive guidelines on hygiene and physical distancing are followed.
Local restrictions will be reviewed again on Tuesday, September 22.
The rules, which had already covered the city of Glasgow, East and West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, were extended to cover Lanarkshire on Friday.
On Saturday, those seven areas had the highest rates of new Covid-19 cases in Scotland. The seven-day rate is calculated by adding all the new cases during the previous week and then dividing it by the total population of the area.
