Coronavirus in Scotland: No plans to increase two-metre rule, says Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon has said there are no immediate plans to increase the two-metre social distancing rule.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the cabinet are continuing deliberations over tightening restrictions.

It comes as scientists from the Sage advisory committee urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to increase the two-metre rule to three metres.

Speaking during the daily coornavirus briefing on Tuesday, the First Minister said there has no been a “specific discussion” on the issue and that it is “not on our immediate radar screen”.

She added, however, that the Scottish Government “is always open-minded on what science tell us to do” and that if any changes were made “I would obviously set out the reasons for that”.

Ms Sturgeon, however, said the cabinet are continuing deliberations over tightening restrictions.

Ministers met early on Tuesday but the First Minister hinted that no decision was reached.

She is due to update the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, where any decision is expected to be announced.

She said: “As I indicated yesterday, one of the things we discussed was whether there are any areas – takeaway, click-and-collect services being two examples – where we think there is a need to further tighten restrictions to reduce occasions and reasons for people to be out of their homes at the moment.

“We are continuing to consider these options a little bit further and I can tell you I will update parliament tomorrow on any decisions that we reach over the course of the day.”

On Tuesday, Scotland recorded 54 deaths from coronavirus and 1,875 positive tests in the previous 24 hours.

It takes the total number of deaths with Covid over 5000 deaths.