THE SCOTTISH Government is to change the rules over essential retail, forcing more shops to close under Level 4 of the coronavirus framework. 

Under the current lockdown regulations - even for those areas placed in the strictest restrictions - hardware stores and garden centres are allowed to remain open.

But speaking in Holyrood on Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon revealed the government needed to make changes. 

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon levels update: All the key points amid fears over new Covid strain

The First Minister said it was about limiting interactions between people as much as possible.

She told MSPs: “We intend to define essential retail more narrowly than we have done recently.

“In short, that means homeware stores and garden centres will be classed as non essential and will therefore require to close, with the exception of click and collect.”

That means chains like Ikea and Dobbies will all need to close. 

From Boxing Day, the whole of mainland Scotland will be in level 4. The islands will be moved to level 3.

The First Minister also warned that “as more evidence of the impact of this new strain becomes available” there could be a need to strengthen level 4 restrictions further.

Sturgeon said: “Again, to be blunt with Parliament and the public, the current level 4 restrictions are not as stringent as the March lockdown. 

“However, it seems that we are facing a virus that spreads much faster now than in March, so we need to consider whether the current level 4 restrictions will be sufficient to suppress it.

“This will be analysis that the Government undertakes urgently as our understanding of the new strain of the virus develops, and I will keep Parliament updated as necessary.”

The First Minister said she believed the restrictions were necessary. 

She said: “Finally, I know many people may question of these measures are strictly necessary, especially given Scotland’s relatively low level of prevalence, compared to other parts of the UK. 

“My firm judgment is that they are necessary. They are not simply  a response to our current situation, but necessary precautionary measures to avoid a significant deterioration in our situation, caused by this new strain, over the next few weeks.

“In short, these measures are necessary to protect our NHS and save lives.

“I do not expect a single person to be happy about them. But I ask everyone to try to understand that these decisions would not have been taken if we did not consider  them essential.”

Last weekend, IKEA said their intention was to keep their stores in Edinburgh and Glasgow open.

An IKEA spokesperson said: “In Scotland, where homeware is designated as essential retail, and in line with rules regarding travel, we will remain open with extensive safety measures in place for customers and co-workers."