GLASGOW will not be placed into level four lockdown this week, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed. 

The First Minister has revealed the city has escaped Scotland's tightest restrictions in the first of her weekly reviews in the battle to slow the spread of Covid-19.  

Level four (Tier 4) is the closest to a full lockdown in the Government’s framework and ministers can, if necessary, impose a stay at home order – similar to the one in place in England.

There had been fears Glasgow would be forced to shut all non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants, gyms, libraries and hairdressers from Friday. 

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Level four also brings in strict rules on social mixing, limiting the number of people that households can meet.

Neighbouring North and South Lanarkshire, which were also said to be at threat of the enhanced restrictions, have been given another reprieve and will both remain in Tier 3 alongside Glasgow. 

Speaking from the Scottish Parliament, Ms Sturgeon said: "A move to level four cannot be ruled out for some of these areas.

"There are areas where current restrictions have worked to halt sharp rises in cases and that includes the city of Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

"That is really positive news. Don't lose sight of that."

She added: "Will more time in level three reduce cases in these areas or will we require more action?"

Glasgow Times: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

Ms Sturgeon added: "The sacrifices everyone is making are hard but they are helping and they are saving lives.

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"There is no doubt the restrictions we have put in place have slowed the spread of the virus."

Ms Sturgeon's confirmation of Glasgow's escape from level four comes on the day she revealed Scotland recorded 39 deaths from coronavirus and 832 positive tests in the past 24 hours. 

It brings the death toll under that measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – to 3,079.

The latest Scottish Government statistics show 75,187 people have now tested positive in Scotland, up from 74,355 the previous day.

The daily test positivity rate is 9.5%, up from 9.1% on Monday.

Glasgow Times: Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken had previously warned the city to follow level three restrictions Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken had previously warned the city to follow level three restrictions

Of the new cases, 293 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 171 in Lanarkshire, 114 in Lothian, and 90 in Ayrshire and Arran.

There are 1,239 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, an increase of 13 in 24 hours.

Of these patients, 102 are in intensive care, down by three.