NICOLA Sturgeon has said it is “possible” further lockdown restrictions could be announced in the next few days and may include measures to curb travel around the country and from Scotland to other places.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily briefing in Edinburgh, the First Minister said ministers would be considering the matter yesterday afternoon and the Cabinet would meet today to discuss the issue.

“Given the numbers we are seeing it is possible that we will have to do more,” she said.

“There may well be a need for some further restrictions in the near future. The Government will be considering the latest clinical evidence and advice later on today and the cabinet will be considering the up-to-date situation when it meets tomorrow morning.”

She added: “If we do decide more restrictions are necessary – and no decision has been taken yet – I want to give an assurance that we will endeavour to give you, the public, and of course the Scottish Parliament as much notice as possible, as well as a clear explanation of our reasons and rationale.”

On possible new curbs, the First Minister said travel restrictions both within Scotland and from Scotland to elsewhere was being looked at.

“Obviously travel will be, both within Scotland, and from Scotland to other places will be part of a consideration of whether additional measures might be required of that nature but I won’t go further than our decision making has reached,” she said.

She stressed the Scottish Government does not impose restrictions lightly and that they could consist of a number of different measures.

The possibility of varying measures by location is also one of the “key considerations”, the First Minister said.

She added: “If we feel there are further restrictions needed, are they needed nationwide, or are they needed on a local or regional basis? We haven’t taken a decision on that yet.”

However, the First Minister added that rising infections can be seen across the country, in every mainland health board area.

She added: “There is a rising tide of infection across the country, albeit it is higher in some parts than in

others.”

She said authorities will try to give as much notice as possible and stressed: “We do not impose restrictions lightly.”

She urged the public to comply with current measures “pending any decisions that may be taken and communicated over the next few days”.

One of the key considerations, she said, will be to consider if restrictions are needed nationwide or on a local or regional basis.

She added that a four nations call with Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove would take place after the briefing and that during a previous call she had “pressed” for more financial support from the UK Government to tackle the pandemic.

Giving the latest Covid-19 figures, she said 697 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 32,906.

A total of 218 people are in hospital confirmed to have the virus, up by eight in 24 hours, and 22 of these patients are in intensive care, no change on Sunday. No new deaths have been recorded, meaning the total number of fatalities remains at 2530.

Sturgeon said the newest figures show “something that is concerning us which is a rise now in transmission among older age groups”.

The new restrictions may coincide with school holidays which start on Friday in some areas.

She said: “Different local authorities have different holiday periods ... But there is also an opportunity over this next couple of weeks, two to three weeks in October, when not all schools are necessarily off at exactly the same time but there will be periods when most schools are off.

“And that perhaps gives an opportunity to try to reduce some of the transmission risks that we face – not in schools, because we believe schools are safe to go back, but that go round about schools.”

She also announced that guidance for people attending parent and baby groups has changed following

a review.