Nicola Sturgeon has said she will “likely” delay the lifting of Covid restrictions in Scotland.
The First Minister this afternoon said that "in all probability” she will halt the easing of restrictions, scheduled to lift on Monday, June 28, in a bid to vaccinate as many people as possible.
The Scottish Government had hoped to move Lanarkshire and all areas of Scotland to the lowest level of restrictions from that date.
However, the timetable looks set to be delayed following a rise in case rates and hospital numbers driven by the spread of the Delta variant of coronavirus.
Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles and some of the smaller islands have been in level zero since June 5. The rest of Scotland is currently in either level one or two.
In a Holyrood statement, Sturgeon said there would be no changes this week to the Covid levels of protection.
Therefore, both North and South Lanarkshire will remain in Level 2.
The First Minister said the Government is hopeful vaccines are “changing the game” in the fight against the virus, but time was required to ensure people had both doses.
She said: “We need to buy ourselves sufficient time for vaccination to get ahead... and that is the reason for caution to be exercised at this juncture."
Confirming that she will make an announcement next week on the June 28 timetable, she said: “Given the current situation – and the need to get more people fully vaccinated before we ease up further – it is reasonable I think to indicate now that I think it unlikely that any part of the country will move down a level from 28 June.
“Instead, it is more likely that we will opt to maintain restrictions for a further three weeks from 28 June and use that time to vaccinate – with both doses – as many more people as possible.”
She added: “So in summary: next week we will, in all probability....pause the further easing of restrictions while we press ahead as fast as possible with vaccination.
“But we will also look ahead in more detail to what we still hope will be possible later in the summer.”
**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
