Highlands remain at Tier One of Covid-19 restrictions as independent probe points to the R-number now between 'zero and one'

The Highland Council area will remain at level one of the Covid-19 tiered system of restrictions, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Sturgeon said the national picture was improving and that the restrictions were having an impact on the number of new infections stabilising.

She also confirmed that the R-number – the virus reproduction rate from carrier to carrier – has also declined to between zero and one.

However, there is no change to no home visiting so that restriction remains in place too.

"I can confirm that the Scottish Government is not proposing any changes to the levels that currently apply to each local authority area," she said.

"The latest data shows that across the whole country and within most local authority areas, the restrictions in place are having an impact – the number of news cases across the country has stabilised in recent weeks.

"We now have grounds for cautious optimism. Independent estimates place the R-number between zero and one, that is indicative of infections now declining."

Related: The latest Covid-19 stats for the Highlands

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