TOUGHER lockdown restrictions in East Renfrewshire are said to be having an impact on efforts to halt the spread of coronavirus. 

The move to Level 4 of the Scottish Government’s lockdown rules was enforced on Friday night, with pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops ordered to close their doors until December 11.

East Renfrewshire residents are also banned from leaving the council area, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Yesterday afternoon (November 24), First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed there would be no further changes to East Renfrewshire’s coronavirus restrictions this week, although she did say there is evidence the virus is in decline across Scotland as a whole.

She confirmed restrictions “are having an impact” and infection numbers have “stabilised.”

“We now have grounds for cautious optimism that numbers may be declining,” she said.

Ms Sturgeon also confirmed there will be some easing of lockdown restrictions at Christmas.

She added: “I know everyone has a desire to see loved ones over the festive period. However, there is also a very real and a very legitimate anxiety that doing so could put those we love at risk, set back our progress as a country and result in unnecessary deaths and suffering.