NICOLA Sturgeon has defended a raft of new lockdown measures in Scotland - amid criticism her "draconian rules" are different from those in England. 

A number of new steps were introduced yesterday in a bid to curb the spread of the Covid-19 following a spike in cases. 

Households can no longer meet indoors in Scotland - like in Greater Glasgow - and pubs and bars must close by 10pm from Friday.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon’s Scotland lockdown update: The 12 key new points

Ms Sturgeon, speaking to hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain, said: "Globally there should be more of a co-ordinated response. This virus doesn't respect borders. Ultimately, I am the First Minister of Scotland and can't out source my decision making. I have a duty to the Scottish people.

"What I have announced is necessary. I am responsible for my decisions and accountable for my decisions."

She added: "I don't speak to [Boris Johnson] perhaps as often as we should. Michael Gove tends to do more of the four nations dialgoue. I'm not knocking that. I spoke to Boris on Monday. 

"Monday was the first time in quite some time I had spoken to him about Covid-19." 

She continued: "It is really tough and I haven't done this lightly. There are exemptions for people who need care and for extended households who don't live together.

"We have been very careful to try to take account of the mental health implications and there is more flexibility outdoors for young people.

"I've made a judgement that we are at a tipping point of Covid-19 and if we don't act now then we might find it running out of control again.

"The judgement I have made, and it's not an easy one, is that if we take tough action now we might manage to be under these restrictions for a shorter period of time than if we delay them.

"We've got to be prepared to take tough decisions and do things if they are for the greater good."

READ MORE: Second lockdown: Nicola Sturgeon reveals the new tougher rules for Scotland

Host Morgan interjected to ask Ms Sturgeon: "Clearly you do not think England has gone far enough?"

"I've tried all along not to criticise other leaders who have taken decisions," she replied. "I can only look at the judgements in Scotland and what my advisors are saying to me.

"A curfew on pubs will limit the virus but in and of itself it will not be enough to arrest this increase in Covid-19 cases and bring the R number down.

"We know it is within domestic household settings that the virus is likely to spread from one household to another. That makes sense as it can be difficult for us to comply with physical distancing. It is easier to regulate public spaces."

Ms Reid asked: "What is the strategy here? Is it a new strategy to eliminate the virus?" 

Ms Sturgeon replied: "I wish I could sit here and give you a definitive answer to this. As yet we have no vaccine. These are judgements and difficult decisions.

Glasgow Times: (Picture: Good Morning Britain)(Picture: Good Morning Britain)

"We have to try to strike the balance. Our objective should be to reduce this virus to the lowest possible levels.

"We're in a tough spot in Scotland but we are in a stronger position than we would have been had we not brought in previous measures.

"Lots of lives were saved because of those sacrifices."

Ms Sturgeon added: "We're all struggling with this. It's nobody's fault. We shouldn't be trying to blame each other and we will get through it.

"Previous generations have gone through even tougher things, the Second World War, for instance. The one thing we know is this virus will pass."