Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that not all of Scotland is ready to move to Level 1 of lockdown restrictions next week.
Under the Scottish Government's previously published routemap, all 32 council areas were supposed to enjoy an easing of covid rules by June 7 - but only 19 local authorities are in a position to do so.
Due to a slight rise in covid cases across several parts of the central belt - largely driven by the Indian variant of the virus - 10 council areas will remain at Level 2 for now.
The First Minister told MSPs at Holyrood today she was confident the country could move to a less restrictive way of dealing with coronavirus - but warned infection rates could not be allowed to outpace vaccinations.
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Dundee, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, all three Ayrshire councils, and North and South Lanarkshire will remain at Level 2 for now.
Sturgeon told MSPs there could even be an argument to move these areas into Level 3 restrictions, given the raw figures, but the impact of the vaccination programme has meant this would not be needed.
“However, it is important to stress that this is a pause, not a step backwards,” the First Minister said.
“And Level 2 is not lockdown. It does have an impact on opening hours of pubs and restaurants and the numbers that can attend certain events.”
She added: “And taking a cautious approach now – while more people get fully vaccinated – gives us the best chance of staying on the right track overall.”
But there was good news for Glasgow, with the city able to finally move to Level 2 from Saturday - meaning household meetings are legal for the first time in eight months.
Several council areas will however be able to move to Level 1 as of midnight on Friday.
These are: Highland, Argyll & Bute, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus, Perth & Kinross, Falkirk, Fife, Inverclyde, East and West Lothian, West Dunbartonshire, Dumfries & Galloway, and The Borders.
Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles will move to Level 0.
The First Minister said while the vaccination programme is having an effect on the level of serious illness from the virus, not enough people are fully protected.
“However – and this is why I have described our current situation as a transition – although we are vaccinating as quickly as possible, there is still a sizeable proportion of the population not yet fully vaccinated,” she said.
“And full vaccination is vital. Protection against the Delta variant after one dose is not negligible – but it is not substantial either. It is after two doses that the protection is much stronger.”
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross previously said areas should not be left behind if restrictions are relaxed.
He said: “Everyone understands that there will be a need for local, targeted measures when an outbreak occurs.
“But leaving behind whole areas should be ruled out. Sweeping measures that unnecessarily hurt a whole city or council area are unfair on businesses and local people waiting to get on with their lives.”
Ross argued: “Selectively imposing restrictions and targeting resources at smaller areas is entirely possible. The blanket council-wide approach is not the only plausible option.
“The one-size-fits-all approach should be replaced by targeted interventions to tackle local outbreaks.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “This is largely welcome news for people in Glasgow - and many across the country.
“But I know that for many in those parts of Scotland that were expecting to move down a level this news will come as a bitter blow.
“I want to focus on our response in hotspot areas. It is paramount that we design proper protocols for what happens in current and future hotspot areas, learning from the Glasgow experience.
“Those protocols must include, walk-in vaccination centres for everyone aged over 18, the mass roll-out of PCR tests, increased support for local businesses and greater access to isolation support grants.
“That must be our first point of call in future outbreaks - not further lockdowns which damage the economy and have a negative effect on people's mental health and wellbeing.
“Glasgow has been a hotspot area for almost three weeks, but it remains the second lowest level of vaccine uptake of any local authority across the country.
“And we still don’t have walk-in vaccine centres for people aged over 18 and above.
“At the same time, we hear daily stories about unattended appointments, and about a large scale of unattended appointments.
