Coronavirus latest: Full lockdown starts at midnight tonight

The Highlands – along with the rest of mainland Scotland – will be placed into a full lockdown at midnight tonight for the whole of this month.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon ordered the sharp increase in restrictions amid a surge in Covid cases and the dangers posed by the new highly contagious strain of the virus.

The restrictions are similar to March with legally binding orders not to leave home except for legitimate purposes like food shopping or exercise and schools will close at least until February.

The gravity of the situation, with 1905 new cases confirmed yesterday, saw Ms Sturgeon recall Scottish Parliament for the second time in four weeks and just the fifth time ever.

She described the situation as being a race between the faster spreading strain of Covid and the vaccination programme. She has described it as the most dangerous period “since the start of the pandemic”.

More to follow

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