The First Minister has announced Perth and Kinross will move to level 3 from Friday.
Fife and Angus will also move to level 3, while 18 other authorities will remain at level 3.
The government has also advised if people do not follow the travel restrictions it may come into law if deemed necessary.
From Friday, cafes, pubs and restaurants will only be allowed to open until 6pm to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks to groups of up to six people from two households. Cinemas, leisure and entertainment venues must close.
Perth & Kinross Council Chief Executive Karen Reid acknowledged the area’s move up to Level 3 from Friday, saying: “We are all disappointed to learn that the Perth & Kinross Council area has been moved into Level 3 in the Strategic Framework.
“This is something we had all hoped to avoid, as we know it will have a major impact on the lives of so many people, both during the restrictions and in the aftermath as we work to build back stronger. We will continue to support people experiencing hardship because of COVID-19 in every way we can.
“With our detailed local knowledge, we are confident that COVID-19 cases in Perth and Kinross are largely confined to specific incidents. We will continue to work with our local public health team to examine the available data about how and where COVID-19 is spreading, to help inform future decisions.
“It remains more important than ever that everyone across Perth and Kinross adheres to the current restrictions: to do so is the only way we will be able to bring Perth and Kinross back down to a lower level and for all of us to live our lives well. Please play your part – use face coverings; wash hands; physically distance and stay home if you are feeling unwell.”
More to follow
