Western Isles are placed into level one

Ms Sturgeon confirmed the restrictions vary depending on the level of cases and rate of transmission in each area.

Each of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have found out which level of the five-tier Covid-19 restrictions they have now been assigned.

The First Minister confirmed that the Western Isles will be assigned to level one, the second lowest available along with Highland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland.

Level zero represents the closest to normal the country can get without effective treatment or a vaccine, whereas level four will be much closer to the full lockdown restrictions seen in March. No council has been placed into level zero.

However, despite the Level one definition allowing six people from two households meeting indoors this would not apply on November 2 when the new rules come into effect. She said that following advice from public health experts, the current prohibition on household visits would remain in place “for a period” as an extra precaution. Ms Sturgeon said she hoped the ban on household visits in level one would “hopefully be a short-term temporary change”.

She also said: “If we dig in now and perhaps get Covid under more control we perhaps open the door, not to 100 per cent normality by Christmas, but hopefully towards more than we have right now.”

Level one sees hospitality with a 10.30pm curfew. Weddings and life events restricted to a maximum of 20 people. Indoor contact sports for adults banned. Only those unable to work from home should go to their place of employment.