NICOLA Sturgeon has confirmed there will be no new immediate Covid restrictions in Scotland.
Speaking to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, the First Minister said it was "essential" Scots acted to slow transmission of the Omicron variant.
Sturgeon said: "Today, I will give our latest assessment of the spread of Omicron and, in light of that, confirm no immediate changes to the protections in place or the advice we are giving the public."
The First Minister said Scotland recorded a record 15,849 positive coronavirus cases on Tuesday, with a test positivity rate of 28.9%.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon update LIVE: Follow along with updates on Scotland's restrictions
But she explained: "It is worth noting that the much higher test positivity in recent days may be partially explained by people being more selective about when to go for a test over the Christmas period."
Sturgeon also confirmed that there will be no immediate change to Scotland's self-isoation period, which has been reduced from 10 to seven days in England.
"These are finely balanced judgments and we are considering the current trends in infection carefully," she said.
"However, I confirm that we hope to reach decisions in the next week with any changes taking effect from 5 January."
In response to the surge in cases, the Scottish Government introduced new measures on December 26 which included one-metre physical distancing at large events, with limits of 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors.
💉 If you haven’t had booster yet, 🙏 book for this week or go to a drop-in.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 28, 2021
💉 If you’re booked for January but already 12 weeks from 2nd jag, 🙏 reschedule for this week.
💉 The more of us who get boosted, the better able we’ll be to beat back Omicron #BoostedByTheBells https://t.co/sKMerZnHP1
Wednesday's Covid-19 figures surpass the previous record-breaking numbers recorded across Christmas, with Scots being warned numbers are expected to rise well into January.
Urging people to “exercise caution”, she said: “It is encouraging that, at least until now, the rise in cases experienced over the past few weeks has not translated into a corresponding rise in hospital admissions or occupancy.
“On the contrary, the number of people in hospital with Covid has so far remained broadly stable.
“I would expect that within the next couple of weeks, we will have a clearer picture and that this will then help us reach informed judgments about the most proportionate response going forward.
“In the meantime, however, while we better understand the impacts and while more and more of us get the added protection of booster vaccinations – which will help reduce the impacts – we must try to avoid the sheer volume of cases overwhelming us.
Nicola Sturgeon said the recent rise in Covid-19 cases has not translated into a rise in hospital cases
“That is why it is prudent, indeed essential, that we slow transmission as much as possible.”
Sturgeon urged Scots to stick to the current restrictions which have seen nightclubs shut and football matches effectively become "spectator-free".
She said: "In response to the surge in cases, the Scottish Government introduced new measures on December 26 which included one-metre physical distancing at large events, with limits of 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors."
She continued: "And it is also why, over Hogmanay and New Year’s Day, and for at least the first week in January, we are advising everyone to stay at home more than normal; to reduce contacts with people outside our own households; and to limit the size of any indoor social gatherings that do take place so that they don’t include people from any more than three households."
READ MORE: Almost 16,000 new Covid cases in Scotland as infections reach record high
The First Minister said it remains the Scottish Government's advice that lateral flow tests should be taken just before meeting up with anyone from another household.
She went on: "In addition to this general advice to the public, the new protective measures relating to hospitality, public indoor places, and live events that I set out last week are now in force.
"We will review these on an ongoing basis - however, at this stage, our expectation is that they will be in force until 17 January.
"That means, for now, limits on the size of live public events – through private life events such as weddings are exempt."
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