CONFIRMED: Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to keep level two coronavirus restrictions

Level two coronavirus restrictions will continue to apply in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire next week.

The first minister made the announcement at the Scottish Parliament this afternoon.

She says while the Covid-19 data shows cause for optimism in the region, there has not yet been a sustained drop in the number of cases.

Moray is remaining at level one - while Angus is moving to the tougher level three restrictions from Friday.

The next review will be announced in a week's time.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The sacrifices everyone is making are hard - and they feel never-ending. But they are helping. They have made a difference, and they are saving lives. There is no doubt that the restrictions we have put in place have dramatically slowed the spread of the virus.

"But hospital admissions are still too high. The number of new cases we are seeing – more than 1,000 a day on average – is also too high. And we cannot be sure that we are seeing a sustained fall in cases.

"As I have said repeatedly in recent days, a rising or even plateauing rate of infection is not a stable position. We want to see a decline in cases. And so we will be monitoring the situation carefully in the days ahead.

"In light of the situation I have just outlined, it would clearly not be prudent to ease restrictions today."

Level allocations from 6am Friday November 13:

Level 1:

• Highland
• Moray
• Western Isles
• Orkney
• Shetland

Level 2:

• Aberdeenshire
• Aberdeen
• Scottish Borders
• Dumfries & Galloway
• Argyll & Bute

Level 3:

• Fife
• Angus
• Perth & Kinross
• Inverclyde
• East Dunbartonshire
• West Dunbartonshire
• Renfrewshire
• East Renfrewshire
• City of Glasgow
• South Ayrshire
• East Ayrshire
• North Ayrshire
• Stirling
• Falkirk
• Clackmannanshire
• City of Edinburgh
• Midlothian
• West Lothian
• East Lothian
• Dundee
• North Lanarkshire
• South Lanarkshire