Nicola Sturgeon has given the clearest indication yet that Scotland is likely to follow England in reimposing stricter limits on the number of people who are allowed to meet in one place, both inside and outside.
Yesterday, the UK Government announced changes to the rules in England which now mean only six people are allowed to meet up together in any setting from September 14, a reduction from the initial limit of 30.
The First Minister, speaking at her daily coronavirus briefing, said full details of what might change in Scotland in terms of Covid-19 measures would be announced in Holyrood, but indicated that the restrictions around social gatherings may change.
She said: "We are now about to welcome students back to colleges and universities. That is, in so many ways not just a welcome step but a necessary step for the wellbeing of our young people – but it is also a risky development.
“That is why tomorrow’s review of the lockdown regulations which I’ll set out in parliament is likely based on all of the recent data to take a very cautious approach to any further changes.
“In fact, we cannot rule out the need to make changes to the number of people allowed to gather together like those made announced for England last night."
Ms Sturgeon also provided her clearest indication yet that fans are unlikely to be allowed back into stadiums as part of the next review of Covid-19 restrictions.
She said: “I have used terms like putting the brakes on, perhaps not going ahead with things we had hoped to go ahead with given the evidence we are seeing right now.
"People can draw a direction of travel from that but in terms of the detail I am duty bound to set that out to parliament tomorrow.
"Clearly we are in a changing situation right now and I think certainly in future we may be a bit more mindful about things like while the numbers are looking like they are.”