Nicola Sturgeon says level 4 lockdown in Glasgow will lift on December 11

Nicola Sturgeon has said that the Level 4 coronavirus restrictions which come into force in Glasgow this evening will be lifted as planned on December 11.

The First Minister has allayed concerns that the lockdown restrictions could be extended beyond the designated three week period during today's government briefing on Covid-19.

Ms Sturgeon was asked a question about whether she could provide reassurances to businesses in Level 4 areas in Scotland - including hospitality and hairdressers - that they could confidently plan to reopen on December 12.

She said: "Level 4 restrictions in the areas that go into Level 4 today will be lifted on the 11th of December. Before then we will have to make an assessment based on up-to-date data at the time about what levels these areas then go into.

"Will they go back to Level 3 or could some of them go to Level 2? We can't make that assessment right now because we need to wait and see what the data is but the Level 4 restrictions will lift on the 11th of December".

Non-essential shops and hospitality establishments will be closed for the next three weeks (PA)

Nicola Sturgeon also hinted that the restrictions could be lifted at 6pm on December 11 in Glasgow and the other 10 local areas in Scotland where Level 4 lockdown measures have been put in place.

Ms Sturgeon did so when asked a further question on whether non-essential businesses in these areas could prepare to reopen at midnight going into December 11.

She said: "I've just set out that Level 4 restrictions will be lifted on the 11th of December. They come in to effect at 6pm today, they will be lifted I think at 6pm on the Friday of the 11th of December - that full three week period.

"The key decision we will have to make before then is what level different areas go into. I believe that Level 4 for these council areas will mean that overall they spend less time in Level 3 than they would if we would have just left them in Level 3.

"But whether they will be able to leapfrog Level 3 and go straight into Level 2 or go to Level 2 via a short period in Level 3, we cannot make that assessment right now but Level 4 restrictions will be lifted."