Coronavirus update: Availability of furlough funding from Treasury putting pressure on decisions
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In Scotland in the last 24 hours there have been a total of 951 positive cases which equates to 9.6 per cent of those tested overall.
NHS Greater Glasgow saw 385 cases, Lanarkshire 268 Lothian 69 and Ayrshire 76 with the remaining cases across Scotland.
Speaking today First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: I want to remind people that the new system came into effect from 6am this morning.
"Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are now in Level 1 - however for the moment it is still the case that people should not meet up in others homes.
"That is an important precaution which is still in place.
"In Dundee which is now in Level 3 tighter restrictions apply and were are asking people there not to travel outwith the authority area unless with good reason.
"From today a website is also available with a postcode checker if you area in any doubt about what level your area is in.
"It is vital at this juncture that everone sticks to the rules and don't look for loopholes.
"We must all keep within the spirit of these and act within them."
On the UK Government announcement of an English lockdown as of Thursday she continued: "I have just come from meeting with Michael Gove and the Scottish government is considering the implications of this.
"I have tried to be as open as possible about the decisions we face.
"We have been cleae all along that our room for manouver is reliant on the UK government.
"We think we can see some signs that restrictions are having an impact.
"But at this stage it is still gradual and not we are not sure it will be sustained or go as far as we want.
"We remain concerned about the rise in hospital admissions.
"We still face a lot of uncertainty as all countries do."
She continued: "We can't and shouldn't rule out a move to Level 4, and which while never easy, the availability of a furlough scheme would make it easier - should we take more generous support to step harder on the brakes - suppressing it further and faster when support is available and opening more breathing space over Chirstmas.
"Here is the dilemma, at this stage indication of a more generous furlough is only available for next month - all the devolved nations have been to press the case for a fair case that it should be available when needed, but can't put off a vital decision while having a debate from the Treasury.
"If we know it is available without time limit we would have more time to make decisions.
"If furlough is time limited we will have to take that decision more quickly, we will have to act now.
"Covid is complicated enough without this extra complication and hope for clarity from Treasury as soon as possible to take decisions in a timely way taking account of our own data."
