Edinburgh will not move to level two as Nicola Sturgeon announces level changes for Scotland

Edinburgh residents will not see lower levels of restrictions due to concerns of the impact on Covid-19 cases due to the potential of increased Christmas shopping and a small rise in cases.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister confirmed that Edinburgh would not move from level three to level two despite “detailed discussions”.

Nicola Sturgeon also reiterated the fact areas in level four, including Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West Lothian, would move to level three from 6pm on Friday, December 11.

Inverclyde, Falkirk and Angus will also drop down to level two from level three.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced whether areas of Scotland would be moving down a level.

Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders will also be dropped down a level, moving from level two to level one.

Explaining the lack of movement in the capital, Ms Sturgeon said: “We have also had detailed discussions about whether Edinburgh should move to level two.

“Edinburgh is currently recording 68 cases per hundred thousand people, which is below the Scotland-wide figure of 99. Its test positivity levels are also relatively low.

“However, cases in Edinburgh have risen slightly in recent days There seems also to have been an increase in East Lothian and Midlothian.”

She added: “The imminence of the Christmas period has also had an impact on our thinking. A move to level two in Edinburgh would mean opening up significantly more services in Scotland’s second biggest city in the two weeks before Christmas.

"That move would carry significant risk of increased transmission. For that reason, we want as much assurance as possible that the situation is as stable as possible before making that move.

“For that reason, and this has been a difficult decision, we have decided not to move Edinburgh to level two this week, but we will consider this again next week.”

Areas moving down from level four to level three are: East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling and West Lothian.

Areas staying at level three include Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, Perth and Kinross, Fife, Midlothian and North Ayrshire

With areas moving to level two, it will include Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Falkirk, Inverclyde, Argyll and Bute, and East Lothian.

Level one areas will be Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles with two additions, Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

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