FM is not ruling out lockdowns at ‘hyperlocal’ level

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would not rule out “hyper-localised” lockdowns in future but admitted it would be difficult to maintain.

Business leaders, scientists and politicians pleaded for areas like Aberdeenshire not to be sent into level three, asking instead for certain “hot-spot” areas to be moved up a restriction level only and allowing less affected areas to remain relatively open.

Before the latest tier system came into full effect, similar measures were put in place at a Coupar Angus chicken processing plant, 2 Sisters, after an outbreak.

The next restriction review will take place today.

While failing to confirm if today ’s lockdown review would consider the “hyper -localisation” model, Ms Sturgeon did say they would move from a “one-size-fits-all” approach when they can.

She said: “We have always said we would never rule out... or be completely against having tiers or levels applying at different part sofa local authority, but we have to be careful about that.

“I think the level system, for as long as we can have a situation where we don’t have to have a one-size-fits-all across the country, we should try to do that.

“The further down we go geographically, the more difficult it becomes to hang together. As I said before, one of the things that is essential in making that targeted, varied geographical approach possible is travel restrictions.

“It becomes a bit more practically difficult to have one level in part of the local authority and another in another.

“It is maybe less impractical in some of our rural and remote areas.”