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media captionGlasgow Covid level may drop if ICU numbers do not rise
Covid restrictions in Glasgow could be eased if the number of people in intensive care does not go up, Scotland s health secretary has said.
Glasgow is the only part of Scotland still in level three, and some businesses have criticised the decision to keep it under stricter measures.
Humza Yousaf said ministers wanted to ease restrictions as soon as possible.
He said he hoped after this week it would become clear whether case numbers had led to a rise in ICU patients.
On Friday, business bosses said they were stuck in an excruciating position.
Pubs and restaurants in Scotland’s largest city are stuck in an “excruciating situation” and need more financial support, industry bosses have said.
From next week, Glasgow will be the only place in the UK where establishments are banned from serving alcohol indoors, said the Federation of Small Business Scotland policy chairman Andrew McRae.
Moray, which had remained with Glasgow in Level 3 of coronavirus restrictions, will now join the rest of the mainland in Level 2 from Saturday.
The drop to Level 2 means widespread relaxations over rules in hospitality and entertainment, including venues being able to serve alcohol indoors and the reopening of cinemas, theatres and casinos.