THE Deputy First Minister has warned East Renfrewshire could be plunged back into tougher coronavirus restrictions amid concern over rising cases in the area.

The local authority has overtaken Moray with just over 75 cases per 100,000 population, according to the latest seven-day average figures.

Now, John Swinney has warned the rise in Covid cases have been “very swift” and it was being monitored, as Barrhead, Neilston and other towns across East Renfrewshire move into Level Two restrictions today.

Mr Swinney told Radio Scotland: "We are seeing changes are taking place in a relatively quick period of time. East Renfrewshire rise has been particularly swift.

"We will continue to monitor the situation in every local authority area and every single outbreak to determine whether there are further patterns that are emerging from these outbreaks.

"If there is a necessity for us to take action and to apply restrictions, we will unfortunately have to do that.

"We made it very clear when we set out from the basis of moving from Level Three to Level Two that there may be circumstances where we have to apply further restrictions.

"We made clear on Friday that we don't want to apply the restrictions for any longer than is necessary and indeed the law does not enable us to do that.

"We will continue to look at situations the country. I think members of the public would accept that where we see a situation, where we see rising case rates, the advice we have been given is that we have to move in quickly to suppress the virus.”