Coronavirus in Scotland RECAP: Nicola Sturgeon to announce new restrictions this week

Pubs, bars and restaurants in England will be ordered to close by 10pm each night from Thursday under tough restrictions set to be announced by Boris Johnson in a bid to curb the rapid rise in coronavirus cases.

The Prime Minister will use an address to the nation on Tuesday evening to outline new measures to stop the spread of Covid-19, which will also restrict the hospitality sector to table service only.

Asked by BBC Scotland whether exams could again be disrupted in this academic year, Ms Sturgeon says it is simply too unpredictable. 

She says: "We want the exams diet to go ahead as normal or as close to normal as possible next year.

"All of us want that but every day right now is a reminder that we are in a highly volatile, unpredictable situation."

Dr Gregor Smith explains that the virus is advancing from " localised hotspots of infection to a more generalised epidemic."

He notes that experts are starting to see a shift in the proportion of over-60s infected by the disease, accounting for one-in-seven new cases.

He says that Scotland’s R number is now likely between 0.9 and 1.4.

Professor Jason Leitch is speaking now. 

Emphasising the need for further action, he says: "We cannot live with this disease without population restrictions."

Pointing to the global picture he notes that 300,000 people tested positive for the disease on Saturday, including 68,000 in Europe, and 4,000 people died. 

Ms Sturgeon finishes by putting an emphasis on the individual efforts everyone can make. 

"This is a serious moment again for the country."

"Think carefully about what you can do as an individual to play your part in this collective action that we need to take."

She encourages members of the public to work from home, download the Protect Scotland app and follow guidance.

Ms Sturgeon confirms that a package of measures will be introduced to financially support hose self-isolating. 

Fines for non-compliance to self-isolation rules, which were introduced in England last week, are also being considered though the First Minister says there is a fear that this may discourage people from getting tested.

New measures to restrict the spread of the virus will be introduced on Tuesday or Wednesday. 

Ms Sturgeon said: “I need to be absolutely straight with people across Scotland, that additional restrictions will almost certainly be put in place in Scotland over the next couple of days.

“Hopefully this will be with four-nations alignment, but if necessary it will have to happen without that.”

Ms Strugeon confirms that a Cobra meeting will take place this week.

She voiced her frustration that there had not been a date set for the Cobra gathering.

She also said she would be speaking to the Prime Minister this afternoon.

Ms Sturgeon added: “In that call, I will impress upon the Prime Minister my view that we need decisive, urgent and as far as possible given our individual responsibilities, co-ordinated action across the UK.

“I will be clear that I am willing to allow a bit more time for four-nations discussions to take place before making final decisions for Scotland, but I will be equally clear that the urgency of this situation will mean that we cannot, must not and will not wait too long.”

The First Minister insists that new action to stem the spread is necessary.

“In my view, further and urgent action will now be needed to stop the increase in the number of cases.

“I and my advisers have spent the weekend immersed in discussion and analysis, looking at a variety of options and considering carefully the impact that we judged these would have.”

While the measures are still being considered, the First Minister said they are “very close to a point of decision”.

She added: “At the heart of this decision is a simple truth, the longer we wait to introduce new measures, the longer these measures are likely to be in place.

“If we move sharply now to get the virus back under control we can minimise the time we all spend under any new restrictions.

“If we wait it will take longer, potentially a lot longer, to come out of the other side.”