Scots Covid hotspots to escape Level 4 next week as cases fall

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that Scotland's Covid hotspot areas will come out of level four restrictions next week as case numbers continue to fall in Scotland.

The First Minister told MSPs there would be no changes to the existing levels of restrictions which are in place across the country as she set out her weekly review to MSPs on Tuesday.

There have been 754 new cases of the virus reported yesterday and 34 new deaths, but the number of people in hospital and intensive care continues to come down indicating progress is being made.

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A sign outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Picture: John DevlinA sign outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Picture: John Devlin
A sign outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Picture: John Devlin
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The number of daily cases has fallen by a fifth recently as the tiered regime of restrictions in Scotland starts to take effect, Ms Sturgeon told MSPs. The R number, indicating how many people contract the virus from each infected person, is now estimated to be below one.

"Taking all of that into account I can say with some confidence we are making progress and good progress, at this stage," she said.

"It is important to stress this because I know that for people who have been in the same level of restrictions for several weeks - and who are still hearing us report high numbers of deaths and new cases each day - it might sometimes seem as though the restrictions are not working.

"However, that is not the case. The sacrifices everyone is making are making a difference.

"They are getting case numbers down, reducing the numbers getting ill and needing hospital care and so protecting the NHS, and saving lives."

But as Scotland approaches the winter period, the authorities must still "err on the side of caution", meaning no changes to the levels across country this week, Ms Sturgeon said.

But next week's review will see Glasgow and large parts of west-central Scotland come out of the strictest level four.

Ms Sturgeon said: "It is also the case that the level four restrictions in place in 11 local authority areas will be lifted a week on Friday - 11 December - and so as we decide the levels each of those will go into, we have an opportunity at next week’s review to look at the allocation of levels across the country more generally.

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"It is likely, therefore, that next week’s review will be more substantial."

In Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils, she said cases had risen by 68 per cent and 45 per cent respectively in the past week.

Virus levels in both areas remain below the national average, but are higher than in some level three areas.

Ms Sturgeon said further analysis was being carried out to understand more deeply the extent this was being driven by specific outbreaks, such as in food processing facilities, which are being managed.

She said: "If this information justifies a move to level three for one or both of these council areas, we will set this out either at next week's review or earlier if the situation merits it."

Despite data in Dumfries and Galloway indicating it could move to level one soon, Ms Sturgeon said it would remain in level two for now as it is bordered by areas "with quite significant levels of infection".

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