- More than two million people in Scotland are preparing to move to the country's toughest level of coronavirus restrictions.
The level four rules will come into force at 18:00 in 11 council areas, including Glasgow.
Non-essential shops will close, as will pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, gyms and visitor attractions - but schools will remain open.
The restrictions will remain in place until 11 December.
They will be accompanied by legally-enforceable travel bans, which could see people fined by the police for travelling in or out of council areas in levels three or four of the country's tiered system unless it is essential.
The move is aimed at driving down "stubbornly and worryingly high" levels of the virus in western and central parts of Scotland which have been worst hit by the pandemic's second wave.
It is hoped that doing so will allow some kind of easing over the Christmas period that would potentially allow families to celebrate together without causing the virus to spiral to dangerous levels in January.
The stricter rules will come into force for 2.3 million people across East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, North and South Lanarkshire, East and South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.
Virus rates in these areas last week ranged from 158 new cases per 100,000 people in West Lothian to 277 in Glasgow - all of which were above the Scotland-wide rate of 140 cases per 100,000.
All of the country's other council areas will remain in their current levels for now, although East Lothian and Midlothian will move from level three to level two from next Tuesday.
Opposition parties have criticised the Scottish government for a "lack of clarity" over why some areas - for example Lanarkshire - are being moved to level four despite seeing cases fall in recent weeks.
There have also been claims that some businesses are being shut down during the crucial festive shopping period without any clear scientific evidence to show they were contributing to the spread of the virus.
Industry leaders have argued that the financial help put in place by the Scottish government is not nearly enough.
Meanwhile, the EIS teaching union is asking its members whether they would be willing to take strike action over safety concerns, and has called for schools in level four areas to move to blended or remote learning.
What do the level four rules mean?
- You must not visit other people's homes, but can still meet outdoors with up to six people from two households
- People should stay at or close to home as much as possible and must not travel outside of their own council area except for "essential purposes"
- Those who can work from home should do so - although construction and manufacturing workplaces can remain open
- Only essential indoor retail premises will remain open
- Close contact services, such as hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons, visitor attractions, leisure and entertainment settings and indoor gyms will close
- With the exception of takeaway services, hospitality premises must also shut
- Outdoor contact sports will end for all ages, except at professional levels
You can see full details of the restrictions here.
Speaking earlier this week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there was "continued and significant concern" about levels of the virus in all of the council areas that would be moving to the highest tier of restrictions.
She added: "At these levels, we simply do not have the assurance we need that hospital and ICU services will be able to cope as we go deeper into winter."
It was confirmed earlier this week that the number of deaths in Scotland which have been linked to Covid-19 has passed the 5,000 mark.
Statistics released earlier in the year found that the country had seen one of the biggest rises in its death rates in Europe at the height of the pandemic - behind only England and Spain.
However, a poll commissioned by BBC Scotland suggested people are largely supportive of the Scottish government's handling of the pandemic, and of the need for strict rules.
The poll also suggested that 56% of people back restrictions being relaxed for a "short period around Christmas Day", with 32% opposed.
The first minister has been involved in talks with political leaders from the other three nations of the UK as part of efforts to find a common approach to Christmas.
She hopes to be able to announce further details next week, but has warned that a careful balance has to be struck between giving people some freedom to celebrate together while avoiding a major spike in the number of cases afterwards.
Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament: "I want people to have a degree of normality over Christmas.
"But I don't want to be in a position of the country having to live with a death toll that could have been avoidable if we get that balance wrong."
The first minister also said the government was working to provide extra support to older people and "anyone who is on their own" through winter, and was considering a specific "loneliness campaign".
The Scottish government hopes that the first vaccine against coronavirus will be delivered to the country next month , and that one million people could be vaccinated by the end of January.
- LEVELS: What are the restrictions in your area?
- NUMBERS: Five key figures to watch out for
- LOCKDOWN: Six months that changed our lives
- CASES: Where are the latest cases in Scotland?
from Via PakapNews