LOCKDOWN restrictions in Glasgow could be eased if intensive care unit (ICU) numbers do not rise, the Health Secretary has said. 

Currently, Glasgow remains in Level 3 while the rest of Scotland entered Level 2 on Monday. 

The decision has been heavily criticised by hospitality bosses who have warned that their businesses could go under. 

Speaking on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf the measure implemented to prevent future lockdowns from happening.

READ MORE: Humza Yousaf says there is room to increase Scotland's vaccine rollout

He said: "If we control it now then hopefully we will avoid future lockdowns in the months to come.

"We have seen an increase in the number of hospital admissions.

"What this week will hopefully allow us to do is to see whether we continue to see a rise in hospital cases but also whether that translates into more severe disease which would need admission to ICU."

Mr Yousaf revealed that ministers had also decided to keep Glasgow in Level 3 for another week due to the fact they were trying to learn more about the April 2 variant, commonly known as the Indian variant. 

READ MORE: Glasgow South Side teachers make plea for covid vaccine priority

He said: "The really critical question is, with the vaccine rollout, does the new variant lead to more hospitalisations and more severe disease which then requires admissions into ICU.

"If the answer to that which I hope is no, then we can look at what we can do in terms of easing restrictions into the future."

Currently, coronavirus vaccinations are being brought forward for those aged between 18 and 39 who live in areas in the South Side.

Residents living in G41, G42, G5, G51 or G52 postcodes are being offered the jag in an effort to minimise the spike in Covid cases. 

Mr Yousaf said there was the possibility to increase the number of injections given daily - particularly administering second doses amongst those priority groups.

He said: "Although we are doing extremely well with the vaccine rollout I think there is room to increase the number of vaccines that we are administering per day and per week."

He added that rolling out the vaccine to more people in Covid hotspots should not mean people in other parts of the country having to wait longer.

Meanwhile, Scotland has recorded 370 new cases of coronavirus but no further deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the latest figures.

It means the death toll under this daily measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – remains at 7664.