'Local lockdown' announced for UK city after 'cluster' of Covid-19 cases

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the change in the rules – which will affect the Aberdeen City Council area – on Wednesday, August 5 as she gave an update at a Covid-19 briefing.

A five-mile travel rule has been put in place and residents are being told not to enter each other’s houses.

All indoor and outdoor hospitality has also been told to close by 5pm on Wednesday.

She said the changes were ‘deeply, deeply unwelcome news’ and added that these new restrictions will be reviewed in seven days.

Ms Sturgeon continued: “The last thing we want to do is to reimpose these restrictions but this outbreak is reminding us just how highly infectious Covid is.

“Our precautionary and careful judgement is that we need to take decisive action now, difficult as that undoubtedly is, in order to try to contain this outbreak and prevent further harm later on.

“As I said earlier, this is about doing all we can to ensure our children can return to schools next week.”

She added: “Acting now, we judge, gives us the time and the space to protect the ability of our young people to return to education.”

Fifty-four cases have been reported in Aberdeen as of Wednesday, with 191 contacts traced in relation to the cluster.

There have been no coronavirus deaths in Scotland for the 20th day in a row.

A total of 2,491 patients have died in the country after testing positive for Covid-19.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Simply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here.

Thank you.