The Scottish Government is strongly advising against non-essential travel between Scotland and parts of the north of England subject to tighter lockdown restrictions.

Nicola Sturgeon said people living in Scotland who are visiting the parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire where people have been banned from meeting each other indoors do not have to cut short their visit but must adhere to the rules and "be extra vigilant when you come home, especially for symptoms".

She said the advice against travel to the affected areas was taken following a call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and is to "ensure we don't add to their challenge and also minimise risks of onward transmission here".

There have been 30 new cases of coronavirus in Scotland in the past 24 hours, according to Scottish Government statistics.

A total of 19,027 people have tested positive for the virus.

The number of new cases is almost double the 17 announced the previous day and is 0.8% of the 15,307 new tests which reported results.

No deaths were registered of people who tested positive for the virus for the 15th day in a row, with the total remaining at 2,491.

There are 255 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, down five in the past 24 hours.

Of these, four patients are in intensive care, up two from Thursday.

Speaking at a Scottish Government coronavirus briefing, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said people returning to Scotland from areas in northern England under stricter lockdown measures should minimise contact with people outside their own household for 14 days from their return.

She said they should also minimise contact with hospitality businesses such as pubs and restaurants.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the Scottish Government's decision to advise against all but essential travel to coronavirus-hit parts of England was not taken "lightly".

She said at a Covid-19 briefing: "The connections between Scotland and the north of England are very strong, they are very important and they are highly valued by people on both sides of the border."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the need for caution is more "obvious" now than it has been since the outbreak of coronavirus as the country sees a surge in new cases.

She said: "Today is the first time we have had 30 new cases in a single day in more than eight weeks.

"We must pay attention to that and I want to assure we are paying close attention to that."