What we could expect from further restrictions

Ms Sturgeon warned just before Christmas that the country was facing a virus that spreads “much faster” than it did in March.

She added that the government was considering whether the current level 4 restrictions covering mainland Scotland, which were “not as stringent as the March lock down ”, would be “sufficient” to tackle the spread of the new variant.

Under level 4 restrictions, which were intended to be in place for three weeks from Boxing Day, nonessential shops have had to shut while bars, cafés and restaurants are only allowed to provide takeaway services.

We take a look back at some of the measures introduced during the March lock down, and statements made by the Scottish Government in recent days, to assess what further action could be announced today.

Stay at home-style lockdown ; under the current regulations, people must keep journeys within their own local authority area to an “absolute minimum”.

The stay at home advice is guidance but the first minister has said this could be backed up by law.

In March, stringent limits were put in place which meant people could only leave their homes to shop for “permissable reasons”.

These included:

To shop for basic necessities – but only once a day, at the most.

To take exercise, no more than once a day, alone or with your own household, not in groups.

For medical reasons for yourself – or if providing care or to support a vulnerable person

To travel to essential work if that work cannot be done from home

Under the level 4 regulations, people must, by law, remain within their local authority area unless they have a reasonable excuse to travel to another.

This includes for work or school purposes.

Schools were due to return to face-to-face learning on January 18 but Ms Sturgeon said last week that this was under review.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the government’s education recovery group will meet this morning to consider the advice in relation to schools and learning.

It is expected the announcement will almost certainly mean a further delay to the return of schools into February.

From Boxing Day, all of mainland Scotland was placed into Tier 4, with the islands moving to Tier 3.

One of the options which remains available to ministers is to introduce a nationwide lockdown, similar to March, in which every part of country is under the same stringent measures.

Meeting others outdoors: no one in Scotland is permitted to visit other households indoors but there are exemptions for those who have formed extended households, to support informal childcare arrangements and for couples who do not live together.

Under current restrictions, a maximum of six people from two separate households can meet outdoors in a private garden or in a park.

During the first lockdown in March, it was not permitted to meet up with other households even outdoors.

Shielding was put in place in March to protect those at greatest risk.

The national advice to shield has ended and those who were in that category should follow the same advice as everyone else in their local council area’s protection level.

Even in level 4 areas, there are no restrictions on socially distancing from people in the same household and it is possible to do unlimited amounts of exercise.

The Scottish Government has said in its guidance that “small changes” to the infection rate will not affect this advice.

However, they said people within this category may be asked to take “extra steps” to stay safe if there is “an increase in infection rates that gives us concern”.

Should this happen, the Scottish Government will inform individuals of this.