Nicola Sturgeon shuts pubs in areas with surging cases of coronavirus

Pubs and restaurants in five areas will only be able to operate on a takeaway basis for a 16-day period from Friday (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Nicola Sturgeon has announced tough new lockdown restrictions focused on Scotland’s hospitality sector as part of a “short, sharp” package of measures aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus.

The Scottish First Minister warned the virus would be “out of control” by the end of this month without action, as she announced that in the five regions across central Scotland with the highest number of cases, licensed premises will have to shut for a 16-day period.