A return to local lockdown levels will likely be backed by tough new rules which will make it harder for different areas to move down a level.
Nicola Sturgeon has indicated the government want to return to a localised model of restriction from late April, similar to the four tier system introduced late in 2020.
But the government said a tougher system will be required to work out which coronavirus level an area was in due to the faster-spreading variant which is now dominant in Scotland and responsible for the majority of cases.
There is fears that outbreaks could more quickly spread out of control, potentially leaving little time to react to a sudden rise in cases.
The First Minister is due to update the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, and may provide more detail on this levels system and what it will look like.
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The approach is set out in full the the new strategic framework, published last week.
The document says it "will have the effect of keeping some areas in higher levels than they would previously have been for the same level of incidence, which we see as a necessary response to increased transmission of the new variant".
What the new level case rate thresholds?
The case rate will be calculated by adding together all the cases over the last seven days in a local authority area divided by the population of the local authority. This number is then multiplied by 100,000.
| Level | New case rate range | Previous case rate range |
| 0 | Close to zero | Under 20 |
| 1 | Under 20 | 20-75 |
| 2 | 20-50 | 75-150 |
| 3 | 50-150 | 150-300 |
| 4 | 150+ | 300+ |
In Edinburgh, the current case rate per 100,000 is 71.8 which suggests the city would likely move to level three if the system was in place just now.
This is based on WHO alert levels, with level four indicating an "uncontrolled pandemic".
However the government has said the levels systems will likely be reintroduced from April when non-essentials retailers and other businesses can begin operating again.
