Locked Down Again

Leaked document shows North and South Lanarkshire facing highest level of restrictions with travel ban and non-essential shops closed

- Chris McCall

NEARLY 700,000 Scots face being put into the highest level of lockdown.

A leaked document revealed North and South Lanarkshire may be put into “level 4” – the tier with the toughest restrictions.

It bans travel in and out of the area and closes all but essential shops.

Dundee is also being lined up for greater curbs – but Glasgow and Edinburgh face no change.

Nicola Sturgeon announced that a new five-tier approach is likely to be introduced from November 2, with levels depending on the spread of Covid in local authority areas.

Level zero is close to normality, while four would be on a par with lockdown.

Most of the country is currently enduring restrictions that would be classed as level two, but the Central Belt is closer to level three.

Sturgeon is expected to announce later this week which levels will apply to different council areas across the country.

A leaked letter from the Scottish Government to Cosla, the council umbrella group, gives a clear indication on the thinking by ministers.

Written by Kenn eth Thomson, a senior civil servant, it states: “The starting point is the measures currently in place. These are broadly equivalent to Level 3 in the central belt, and Level 2 elsewhere.

“Because of the severity of the impact of the measures in the highest level, Level 4, ministers will only consider using it if necessary.

The data currently indicate that level of concern for two areas: Level 4 is being considered for North and South Lanarkshire. There are, however, some signs in the latest data that the situation in those areas may be stabilising.