The first minister turns to Level 2 local authorities which are:

• Aberdeenshire
• Aberdeen
• Fife
• the Borders
• Dumfries and Galloway
• Argyll & Bute
• Perth & Kinross and Angus

The first minister explains that in two of these cases – the Borders and Argyll & Bute - the decision on whether they should be assessed as level 1 or level 2 was finely balanced.

She says that in both cases one of the key factors in reaching the decision was the interconnection with neighbouring areas – particularly with health services in Lothian and Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The first minister also highlights the impact of travel from nearby areas, therefore a cautious approach has been adopted.

The first minister confirms that Highland, Moray, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have all been assessed as Level 1.

Ms Sturgeon points out that hopefully in a short time Level 1 will allow people to meet in each other’s homes, in groups of up to six people, from a maximum of two households.

However, the restriction on household meetings will continue to apply in all parts of the country for now.

This will be reviewed ahead of the 10 November review.

North and South Lanarkshire in Level 3 despite having the highest rate of Covid in Scotland.

This was a "borderline" decision and will be kept under review on a daily basis, the first minister says.

Ms Sturgeon outlines the purpose of each level:

The baseline Level Zero and Level 1 are intended to ensure as much normality as possible - but they do not remove all restrictions.

When we begin to see community transmission in an area, and when the spread of the virus cannot be linked to a specific outbreak, we need to apply the brakes, and that is essentially what Levels 2 and 3 are designed to do.

The aim is that these restrictions – especially in Level 3 - are in place for as short a time as possible.

If any area is at Level 3, the aim must be to bring it down to Level 2 and then Level 1, not to allow it to go to Level 4, which the government will use when transmission is extremely high and risking the capacity of the NHS to cope.

Dundee is currently seeing, per week, about 185 new cases per hundred thousand of the population.

That is higher than for several of the areas already in the equivalent of level 3.

Neighbours Perth & Kinross and Angus are not at level 3.

Inverclyde has been assessed as level 3 along with:

East and West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, and the City of Glasgow;

South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire;

Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire;

The City of Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian and East Lothian.

Level 2 - Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Fife, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll & Bute and also Perth & Kinross and Angus.

Image source, bbc

The first minister tells the chamber: "Unless we act individually and collectively to protect and build on the progress we see today, it will quickly go into reverse."

She says the assessment of which level of protection is right for each local authority is broadly based on five key factors

1. the number of positive cases per hundred thousand people over the last week
2. the percentage of positive tests
3. forecast for new cases in the weeks ahead
4. the capacity of local hospitals
5. the capacity of intensive care facilities

Highland, Moray, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have all been assessed as level 1

The first minister says last week saw a significant slowing in the rate at which new cases are increasing and that has continued.

Ms Sturgeon says:

• Cases in the last week, up to today, have increased by 4%
• Two weeks ago the weekly increase was 40%

• The latest estimate of the R number, published today, suggests that it is still above 1, but may have fallen slightly to 1.3

The first minister says all of this suggests that the measures introduced five weeks ago to curb household meetings are having an effect.

Nicola Sturgeon confirms a further 1,128 people have tested positive for Covid-19. That is 7.1% of the total number of people tested.

This takes the total number of positive cases in Scotland to 61,531.

Health board breakdown:

The first minister says the provisional data indicates the breakdown of new cases is as follows:

• NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde: 416
• NHS Lanarkshire: 266
• NHS Lothian: 117
• NHS Ayrshire and Arran: 121

The remaining are spread across nine other health boards.

1,152 patients are in hospital with a confirmed case (up 35), with 86 being treated in intensive care (up one).

A further 37 people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 2,791 deaths in Scotland by that measure.

The first minister begins by saying she will shortly confirm the different levels of protection to be applied across Scotland from Monday.

A detailed analysis paper is also being published which sets out the government's assessment of each of the five factors and it's overall judgment, for each local authority.

Image source, PA Media

Nicola Sturgeon will shortly reveal the levels of coronavirus restrictions to be placed on each of Scotland's 32 local council areas.

We're expecting publication of the assignation of levels when the first minister gets to her feet at Holyrood at 12.20pm.

Ms Sturgeon will provide an update on the Covid-19 pandemic ahead of first minister's questions.

So there's less than 10 minutes to go before Nicola Sturgeon will announce the levels of coronavirus restrictions which will be placed on each of Scotland's 32 local council areas.

But what will it mean for you? Check out the answer below.

• What level might your area be heading into?
• How are the Covid restriction levels decided?

Image source, Scottish government

Image source, PA Media

The levels of coronavirus restrictions to be placed on each of Scotland's 32 local council areas are to be confirmed shortly.

Provisional tiers published earlier this week suggested North and South Lanarkshire could both be placed in the highest level four category.

If that recommendation is confirmed, it would impose restrictions close to full lockdown on the two council areas.

Much of the rest of the country will be placed in either level two or three.

But rural areas including the Highlands, Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles and Moray, which have far fewer cases of the virus, are likely to be moved down to level one.

Nicola Sturgeon is about to update MSPs at Holyrood on the allocation of levels to local authorities ahead of first minister's questions.

• Read more here
• What level might your area be heading into?
• How are the Covid restriction levels decided?
• Covid in Scotland: Where are the latest cases?

• Scots are expected to find out shortly what coronavirus restrictions they'll face when Nicola Sturgeon reveals the tiers for Scotland's 32 council areas

• The new 5-level framework, which was rubber stamped earlier this week, comes into force on Monday
• It starts at Level 0 and goes up to Level 4, which is a partial lockdown
• The Scottish government has already published the "indicators" it will use

Image source, PA Media

• Dozens of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 were transferred from Scottish hospitals to care homes
• Public Health Scotland (PHS), external said 78 such patients were discharged to care homes between 1 March and 21 April.
• Only 650 of the total 3,599 elderly patients discharged from hospital during the period had been tested.
• Nicola Sturgeon has said there was "no statistical evidence" hospital discharges led to care home outbreaks

Scotland's COVID-19 protection levels: The Scottish government has already set out plans for the new 5-level system to help tackle the spread of the virus.

The first minister is about to reveal which level of restrictions will be placed on which local authority in Scotland.

Read more about the new protection levels, external, which are due to be introduced from Monday 2 November.

This new approach is set out in the Scottish government's Strategic Framework document, external which includes details of the support that will be available to affected businesses.

Image source, PA Media

Here's the current restrictions, guidance and advice until Monday:

1. Scottish government: Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you can and cannot do, external

2. Scottish government's current restrictions, external

The challenge Scotland faces has also been set out in an evidence paper, external published by senior clinical advisors

3. Download the Protect Scotland app, external from NHS Scotland

4. Test and Protect, external

If you have Covid-19 symptoms go immediately to NHS Inform online or phone 0800 028 2816 to book a test

5. NHS Inform, external

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.

6. Clear Your Head, external

It's ok to not feel yourself right now, here's some great tips to help people through the pandemic

Image source, PA Media

Welcome to BBC Scotland's rolling coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland on Thursday 29 October 2020.

The levels of coronavirus restrictions to be placed on each of Scotland's 32 local council areas will be confirmed today.

We're expecting publication of the assignation of levels when Nicola Sturgeon gets to her feet at Holyrood at 12.20pm.

The first minister will provide an update on the Covid-19 pandemic ahead of first minister's questions.