Image source, Getty Images

Smaller businesses will be hit hardest by the new restrictions covering many parts of Scotland, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned.

The FSB's Andrew McRae said: “Today’s changes shut the doors of thousands of smaller Scottish firms at their busiest time of year, resulting in despair and anger amongst independent shopkeepers, publicans, restaurateurs, barbers and beauticians."

Mr McRae called for ministers to provide "a cast iron guarantee" that businesses will be given an opportunity to trade normally ahead of Christmas.

“The cards are now stacked against Scottish smaller businesses," he said.

The first minister has now finished answering questions from MSPs.

This follows her announcement that Scotland's toughest Covid restrictions are to be introduced in 11 council areas - including Glasgow - on Friday.

You can watch the ministerial update on Scotland’s Social Security Benefits and the annual veterans update debate here on the live page with us.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats' leader Willie Rennie asks if Ms Sturgeon is sure the tough restrictions will work?

The first minister says she is "as sure as I can be" that they will drive down infection levels.

So far, they have stopped the rapid increase of infections.

But the "stubbornly high" levels of Covid must be driven down over the winter to ease pressure on the NHS.

The restrictions are designed to minimise the loss of life, the long-term health impacts and also the economic impact, she said.

The Scottish government has published the protection levels that will apply in each local authority area in Scotland from 20 and 24 November, alongside evidence and analysis informing these decisions.

Read more here, external

The Scottish Greens' Alison Johnstone asks if the Scottish government will introduce regular testing of some key workers - including those who are in health and education.

The first minister replies that those with symptoms have been prioritised for testing so far, as that's the most efficient way of breaking the chains of transmission.

But the technology to do routine testing on a mass scale is opening up - although there are still "hurdles and limitations" to be overcome.

What assurances can the first minister give that three weeks does really mean three weeks, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard asks.

He points out that previously some restrictions have lasted longer than initially proposed.

How can people know that this time will be different?

The first minister says she can understand how this can be frustrating.

But level four is meant to be "a short, sharp intervention", she said.

The restrictions will end on 11 December, Ms Sturgeon insists.

Then it will be decided what levels these areas will go into.

If we don't act now, there's a risk hospitals won't be able to cope, the first minister concludes.

Just 403,000 Scots fall into the level one restrictions - or 7.4% of the Scottish population.

The council areas are: Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Moray and the Highlands

East Lothian and Midlothian have dropped down to level two.

They join Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, the Scottish Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, and Argyll & Bute.

In total, there are 1.039 million people covered by level two restrictions (19% of the population)

Nine councils remain under level three restrictions, affecting 1.74 million people (31.8% of the Scottish population).

Edinburgh, with 525,000 people, is the largest council area in level three.

The others are: Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Dundee, Fife, Perth & Kinross and Angus

Scottish Conservative group leader Ruth Davidson asks Nicola Sturgeon about the situation in hospitals.

She says projections suggested some boards - including NHS Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Ayrshire and Arran - could run out of Covid beds in the weeks ahead, and that ICU capacity in those boards as well as Fife and Forth Valley could also run out.

Ms Davidson asks the first minister whether the hospitals in those areas had contingency plans to deal with demand.

Ms Sturgeon replies that the reason for today's decisions was to protect the NHS and ensure it does not get to the point where it cannot cope over the winter.

She says there were plans to double and then, if necessary triple, ICU capacity.

Mutual aid was already under way, she confirmed. One reason she said that Forth Valley was under pressure was because it was taking care of patients from the NHS Lanarkshire area.

PPE stocks were "healthy", Ms Sturgeon added.

The first minister ends, as always, by calling on all of us to stick by the rules and to remember FACTS:

Image source, Scottish government

The first minister says today's decisions are necessary to help the NHS and "to give us the hope of some respite and time with loved ones at Christmas".

"And, with as little suffering and loss of life as possible, to help us complete the final stage of this horrible journey to the point, hopefully next spring, when we will be vaccinating, testing and treating our way back to normality."

Ms Sturgeon ends by saying: "Try to stay strong.

"And please, stick with it and stick together."

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister tells the chamber: "We do have real reasons to be optimistic that science will get us out of this pandemic - and soon."

She says later this week the health secretary will set out to parliament the plan to start vaccinating the most vulnerable as soon as stocks of an approved vaccine are available - hopefully before the end of the year.

This will be rolled out across the adult population as quickly as supplies allow.

Next week, now that there is a supply of lateral flow tests, Jeane Freeman will set out the government's plans for mass testing.

This will include more detail of plans to test care home visitors, NHS staff and students.

It will also set out plans for geographic mass testing, drawing on the lessons of the pilot under way in Liverpool, and the options for extending testing to other groups of key workers.

In addition to the UK furlough scheme, all businesses that require to close, at any level, are eligible for a four-weekly grant of £2,000 or £3,000, depending on rateable value.

Grants of £1,400 or £2,100 are available to businesses that are open, but subject to trading restrictions.

Eligible businesses can apply for these grants now through their local authorities.

The first minister also confirms:

• in addition to this grant support, the Scottish government is establishing a £30m discretionary fund to enable local authorities to provide additional support for businesses where they consider that necessary or justified.
• the Scottish government will also make an additional £15mavailable for newly self-employed people who have not been able to access other forms of support.
• It will also make an additional £15m available to councils to help with the community and social impact of a move to level four.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon says there are also specific measures in place for those on the shielding list – but the government is not advising the same strict isolation as in the previous lockdown.

The first minister says: "Instead, the advice is to be especially vigilant.

The chief medical officer will be writing directly to all people in level four areas who were on the shielding list to provide more detailed advice.

Almost 2.3 million people have moved from level three to level four restrictions - about 42% of the Scottish population.

Glasgow City Council is the biggest in Scotland with 633,000 people.

North and South Lanarkshire together account for another 660,000 people.

West Lothian has moved to level four with 183,000 people under the restrictions.

The 11 councils in level four are: the City of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says the ability to maintain a targeted approach depends on people not spreading the virus from high to low prevalence areas.

Ms Sturgeon explains that if we see evidence that people from East or South Ayrshire are visiting places in North Ayrshire, or that people from Glasgow are going to Inverclyde, the government would have no choice but to put these areas in level four too.

She adds: "So it is essential that we all abide by travel restrictions.

" I can confirm that the guidance that has been in place in recent weeks will become law from Friday.

• That means people living in level three or level four areas must not travel outside their own council area, except for certain essential purposes.
• People living elsewhere in Scotland must not travel to level three or level four areas, except for essential purposes.
• And there must be no non-essential travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK.

Image source, PA Media

The first minister turns to keeping schools open which remains a priority, including in level four areas.

She says her very clear view is that the harm done by closing schools significantly outweighs any impact that schools have on transmission.

Ms Sturgeon says the government will keep the guidance for schools under close review.

A further evidence paper on school safety will be published by the deputy first minister, tomorrow.