Scotland will go back into national coronavirus lockdown, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces

Scotland will go back into national coronavirus lockdown, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces

Scotland will go back into national coronavirus lockdown, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Members of the public will be legally required to stay at home with schools remaining closed in January 

A new faster-spreading coronavirus variant has taken hold in Britain.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under growing pressure to also place England back into full lockdown.

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Scotland will go back into full national coronavirus lockdown with schools remaining closed and members of the public legally required to stay at home, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Monday afternoon.

Sturgeon said the measures would come into force from midnight.

"I can confirm now in summary that we have decided to introduce from midnight tonight for the duration of January a legal requirement to stay at home except for essential purposes," she told the Scottish Parliament.

"This is similar to the lockdown of March last year."

From Tuesday all household mixing will be banned indoors and a maximum of two people over the age of 11 will be allowed to meet outdoors.

It will be illegal for anyone to leave home unless taking part in essential work, essential shopping, exercise, or visiting an extended household bubble.

Schools will also remain closed to most pupils