The Scottish Government has extended lockdown restrictions across two more council areas in an effort to curb rising numbers of coronavirus cases.
Indoor household gatherings, which have been identified as a key driver behind a spike in positive Covid-19 tests in the West Coast, have been banned in Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire.
Restrictions already in place in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire are being continued for at least another week.
The measures bar people from visiting separate households in these parts of the country, while also prohibiting them from visiting homes in other local authority areas which have not been impacted.
Nicola Sturgeon described the latest move as “regrettable” but said the measures were necessary.
The First Minister said the evidence pointed to transmission taking place between households, but an eye will be kept on the hospitality sector.
1/ Regrettable but necessary in light of sharply rising numbers that restrictions on indoor household gatherings require to be continued for a further week in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire, and extended to Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire… https://t.co/BT1YYQNuck
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) September 7, 2020
She tweeted: “Over recent weeks, we have seen a continued increase in new Covid-19 cases in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area.
“Having looked at where cases are being identified, the advice from the public health experts managing this outbreak is that restrictions on indoor gatherings should be extended to Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire and continue for at least a further seven days in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.
“I understand this will not be welcome news for people living in these areas but it is necessary to help us limit the spread of Covid.
“Acting now gives us the time and the space to protect people and get more control over the virus.”
Due to a continued rise in #coronavirus cases in the West of Scotland, we are extending restrictions to the following local authority areas:
🔹 Renfrewshire
🔹 East DunbartonshireThese measures come into effect at midnight (Monday 7 September) and will be reviewed in a week.
— Scottish Government (@scotgov) September 7, 2020
The latest figures show 146 new Covid-19 cases were recorded across Scotland from Sunday into Monday – 78 of them in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
Ms Sturgeon said the evidence pointed to transmission taking place between households.
She added: “Close attention will be paid over next few week to hospitality and, in the meantime, the councils involved will step up engagement and, if necessary, enforcement to ensure rules being complied with.
“So if you live in Glasgow City, East or West Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire or Renfrewshire council areas, please don’t have others visit you at home and don’t visit other households in any part of Scotland.
“If we comply with this, hopefully further restrictions can be avoided.”
The measures also mean indoor visits to hospitals and care homes will be limited to essential visits only to protect the most vulnerable.
Restrictions will be reviewed every seven days in discussion with local partners.
It comes after Police Scotland revealed the force responded to reports of almost 400 house gatherings in breach of coronavirus rules at the weekend.
Between Friday and Sunday, officers were called out to 391 households allegedly flouting the country’s Covid-19 regulations. This is a 23% rise on the weekend before.
