NICOLA Sturgeon has suggested there won't be any new Covid restrictions in Scotland before Christmas.
The First Minister said she is not asking Scots to change or cancel their festive plans.
But she urged everyone to consider how those plans could be made safer.
It comes as Scotland experiences a surge in Omicron cases.
1/ @scotgov 🎄 advice:
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 20, 2021
➡️Cut contacts as much as poss in run up to Xmas Day - helps slow spread & also reduce risk of you catching virus & having to isolate at Xmas
➡️Keep Xmas/Boxing Day dinners as small as family circumstances allow, test in advance, wash hands, open windows https://t.co/j5zL1XMqs0
Sturgeon told Clyde1: "The cabinet will discuss tomorrow and I will set out in parliament if there are any additional or wider steps necessary, but I want to be clear to individuals that the advice I gave out last week is the advice that will take us through Christmas."
"My clear message to individuals is to reiterate the message I gave last week and that is, in the run up to Christmas, please reduce your contacts, stay at home as much as is feasible right now.
READ MORE:Â Nicola Sturgeon calls claim of doubling Scots Covid cash 'spin'
"For Christmas Day and Boxing Day, we're not asking people to cancel plans but think about keeping them as small as your family circumstances allow and make sure everyone is testing before going, and following rules around hygiene and ventilation.
"Then after Christmas, for a period, limit your contacts again, so we can suppress infection as much as we possibly can, as we speed up the vaccination program."
It comes as Scotland recorded its highest test positivity rate since January this year, with 6734 new coronavirus cases counted in the last 24 hours.
In Monday’s figures, the test positivity rate stood at 15.2%, up from 13.9% on Sunday.
The case numbers are also the highest daily figure recorded since September this year.
The First Minister said if Scots limit their social contacts and follow government guidance it could mean Scotland avoids another spike in coronavirus cases.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here