NICOLA Sturgeon is to announce that new coronavirus restrictions are to come into force across Scotland in the next couple of days.
The First Minister is to set out the additional curbs in a statement to Holyrood on Tuesday or Wednesday.
She also confirmed that a Cobra meeting will take place following calls from her and others across the devolved nations to co-ordinate new coronavirus measures across the UK.
The Scottish Government learned of the plans for a Cobra meeting during a meeting with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on Saturday.
However, the First Minister said it was "frustrating" that there had not been a date set for the Cobra gathering.
She also said she would be speaking to the Prime Minister this afternoon.
The First Minister added: "In that call, I will impress upon the Prime Minister my view that we need decisive, urgent and as far as possible given our individual responsibilities, co-ordinated action across the UK.
"I will be clear that I am willing to allow a bit more time for four-nations discussions to take place before making final decisions for Scotland, but I will be equally clear that the urgency of this situation will mean that we cannot, must not and will not wait too long."
READ MORE: Coronavirus in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon confirms another 255 cases
She told today's briefing on the pandemic that she was closely considering a number of measures with a decision to be taken very soon.
"The Scottish Cabinet will meet tomorrow to take stock and I am very clear it must be in a position to decide the way ahead for Scotland within the next 48 hours," she said.
"I need to be absolutely straight with people that additional restrictions will be put in place over the next couple of days.
"Hopefully this will be with four nations alignment but if necessary it will have to happen without that.
"I intend to make a full statement to Parliament later this week, tomorrow or Wednesday I hope [outlining] the steps that the government has decided are necessary and to set out the rationale for them."
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon announces support for people self-isolating
Speaking at the Scottish Government's daily briefing, the First Minister said confirmed coronavirus cases in Scotland have risen by 255 in the past 24 hours and that 24,627 people have now tested positive for Covid-19.
She said that "doing nothing in the face of this rapid spread is not an option".
Sturgeon said: "In my view, further and urgent action will now be needed to stop the increase in the number of cases.
"I and my advisers have spent the weekend immersed in discussion and analysis, looking at a variety of options and considering carefully the impact that we judged these would have."
While the measures are still being considered, the First Minister said they are "very close to a point of decision".
She added: "At the heart of this decision is a simple truth, the longer we wait to introduce new measures, the longer these measures are likely to be in place.
"If we move sharply now to get the virus back under control we can minimise the time we all spend under any new restrictions.
"If we wait it will take longer, potentially a lot longer, to come out of the other side."
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