The tough call to close all pubs must be on the table to get Scotland back on track in the coronavirus crisis, Nicola Sturgeon has been warned.
The call from leading SNP councillor Chris McEleny comes as infection rates continue to rise despite localised restrictions.
An alarming 208 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on Sunday, and a further 146 new cases were declared today - levels last seen during full lockdown.
The Scottish Government's daily update also revealed that 256 people are currently fighting Covid-19 in hospital with five people in intensive care.
A total of nine new cases have been detected in Ayrshire, Ms Sturgeon also revealed this afternoon. The total for the region now stands at 1408.
Chris McEleny, who leads his group in badly-hit Inverclyde, said the virus is getting out of control, putting schools and the whole population at risk.
It follows a ban on mixing households in Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire. But people can still head out for a drink with friends at pubs.
Sturgeon and Scotland's chief medical advisors explained the evidence shows people are not observing social distancing in houses while strict rules in pubs - if applied properly - prevent infection.
McEleny said: "I have been fully behind being innovative to support businesses, with new outdoor areas being created, but it’s not compatible to have pubs across the country open when we are seeing new cases at a rate that previously we were in a country wide lockdown to get them under control.
"If we want to keep ourselves and others safe, keep schools open full time and make workplaces more productive again, the decision to reimpose lockdown restrictions on all pubs must now be on the table."
McEleny added: "If we work hard now to continue to stick to the Scottish Governments physical distancing measures then we can play our part in stopping the spread of the virus.
"Pubs being open has clearly desensitised our caution at a population level with people regularly asking why can I not visit a family member, why can I not go to a funeral, or go here or there when pubs are full across the country. You can stick to party lines on that point but the reality is people are right, and for as long as pubs are open people will act like the virus has gone away and that will only result in new cases increasing again on a daily basis."
Restrictions in the Glasgow region will be reviewed on Tuesday. Aberdeen city was forced to close hospitality premises after an outbreak was linked to pubs in the city.
