Plans to introduce a new five tier framework for lockdown will be debated by MSPs at Holyrood today after a leaked letter revealed how it could be implemented across Scotland.
Level four - the toughest level of restrictions - could be imposed on North and South Lanarkshire while Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee are moved to level three.
Aberdeen could be placed at level two while more rural council areas - where transmission of the virus is lowest - could be placed at level one.
A leaked letter yesterday set out how local authorities are preparing for the latest round of restrictions to be tried by the Scottish Government in the fight against Covid.
The debate at the Scottish Parliament today begins at 3.20pm and there will be no media briefing at lunchtime.
It comes as Nicola Sturgeon warned yesterday that some parts of Scotland will see no immediate change in lockdown restrictions when a new five tier framework is adopted.
Scots will be told by the end of the week which of the five levels their local council area has been placed in.
MSPs will debate details of the draft framework and a majority are expected to support it when the plan is put to a vote.
The new five tier framework is designed to guide communities through local lockdowns until such a time a vaccine is widely available.
Speaking at her daily media briefing yesterday, the SNP leader said many parts of the country will see "no immediate change" from the existing local lockdowns already in place.
That could mean pubs and restaurants in the central belt remain closed next week.
"We will keep details of the levels under review as the pandemic develops," she said.
"We'll also set out more detail on the factors that will guide decisions on which levels apply to different parts of the country."
Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives have proposed that a new business advisory council should be built-in to the new coronavirus tier system to help protect Scottish jobs.
At today's Scottish Parliament debate, the Tories will table an amendment calling for the SNP to introduce a Coronavirus Business Council to inform decisions about new restrictions.
The motion will also request that the government develop and publish a Christmas loneliness strategy, and ask for the publication of local and regional data on Covid.
