Travellers from across South America have been banned from entering Scotland amid growing concerns over a mutant coronavirus strain.
The worrying new variant has been discovered in Brazil and may be more transmissible between people - similar to the strain found in the UK last month.
Just hours before the latest travel restrictions were announced, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was ‘concerned’ and did not want the new bug coming to Scotland.
She said: “We are concerned but we are doing everything we need to do to combat that, but we don't want that variant coming in if we can avoid it.”
The travel ban, which was announced by the UK Government and backed by their Scottish counterparts, came into force at 4am today.
Arrivals from the Central American state of Panama and Portugal are also banned from entering the country due to its strong links with Brazil.
Travellers from the former Portuguese colony of Cape Verde are also not allowed entry.
British and Irish nationals and others with residence rights are exempted from the measure though they must self-isolate for 10 days along with their households on their return.
There is an exemption also for hauliers travelling from Portugal to allow the transport of essential goods.
Scientists analysing the Brazilian variant believe the mutations it shares with the new South African strain seem to be associated with a rapid increase in cases in locations where there have already been large outbreaks of the disease.
