What is a 'firebreak' lockdown? | Scotland set for hottest September day | Scots triumph in Vienna

Good morning,

Welcome to today's newsletter from The Scotsman.
What a valiant and heroic victory for Steve Clarke's men in Vienna last night. Scotland's national side secured a vital victory against Austria in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

This morning, our senior sport writer Aidan Smith writes of vindication and redemption for The Scotland manager: "The World Cup play-offs aren’t just back in contention. The admiration for Clarke and his players, that has been drained by the indifferent Euros and an equally indifferent start to this Group F campaign, requires to be topped up once more. To the brim."

Away from sport, reports suggest the UK Government has drawn up plans for an October firebreaker lockdown to curb rising Covid-19 hospitalisations. Liv McMahon looks at how this new lockdown type might work if implemented.

At Holyrood today, we expect Nicola Sturgeon update MSPs on the Covid situation in Scotland ahead of the continued debate on the Programme for Government which was set out yesterday. The number of deaths being recorded each day will likely come up.. Yesterday 16 Covid-related deaths were recorded, but on Thursday last week 17 were reported, this was the highest daily death figure since July 22. We may not be out the woods yet.

We'll also have analysis of the First Minister's speech this afternoon. Make sure to visit our homepage.

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Today's top stories:

Coming up

12:00: PMQs followed by Commons vote on new social care levy. Boris Johnson expected to meet 1922 committee on Wednesday evening

14:15: Nicola Sturgeon to give coronavirus statement in Scottish Parliament

15:00: World Health Organisation (WHO) to hold press briefing on Covid-19

Thanks for reading, please get in touch if you have feedback.

Sam Shedden
[email protected]