A travel ban may come into force in Scotland as level four restrictions are being considered for parts of the country.
Nicola Sturgeon is set to make an announcement in parliament on Tuesday (17 November) where she will reveal what lockdown levels will apply to Scotland's 32 council areas.
The First Minister has said that areas where there is a "stubbornly high prevalence of the virus" are being considered for level four restrictions - which includes West Lothian.
Ms Sturgeon warned that "Christmas flexibility" around the tough rules currently in place may only work if level four restrictions happen now.
She also signalled a "statutory regulation based approach", which could replace voluntary restrictions on travelling, reports the Daily Record.
As previously reported by Edinburgh Live, not all of the current restrictions in place here and across Scotland are underpinned by law, with some rules ultimately only guidance - and this applies to the current travel restrictions.
While Scots have been told not to travel outside the area unless it is essential, the travel restrictions are currently not mandatory - unlike they were during nationwide lockdown in March.
The First Minister previously admitted that it would be problematic to try and enforce a travel ban, with police unable to routinely stop vehicles and establish whether the journey was essential.
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Speaking at her daily media briefing, Sturgeon said: "Clearly, if you go to level 4, then the necessity of travel restrictions, which are necessary to support any regional tiered approach, become even more necessary.
“So, yes, a part of our consideration today is whether we need to, in order to make very clear to people how important it is that they abide by these travel restrictions, whether any level 4 move would be accompanied by a more statutory regulation based approach to travel restrictions."
