NICOLA Sturgeon is set to make a major Covid-19 announcement in Parliament as infection numbers reach record highs.
The festive period has seen daily cases climb to more than 8000, with the most recorded since the start of the pandemic on Boxing Day – 11,030.
The First Minister will update MSPs at Holyrood on Wednesday afternoon (December 29) just two days before Hogmanay.
This is everything you need to know.
What restrictions are already in place?
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.
New rules on social gatherings then came in on Monday, with meetings limited to three households at indoor and outdoor venues like bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon urges Scots to stick to rules as Covid cases hit record high
Table service was also made a requirement at places where alcohol is served.
Are more restrictions imminent?
It remains unclear whether Sturgeon will introduce further restrictions or not as she makes her announcement in Parliament.
Scotland’s current rules mean Hogmanay events will be cancelled, while football matches – including the Old Firm game between Rangers and Celtic on January 2 – will go ahead without fans.
Wales and Northern Ireland were also quick to introduce new measures immediately after Christmas Day, curtailing many people’s new year plans.
READ MORE: Outrage as Tory MP brands Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 'principalities'
Their new restrictions include required table service where alcohol is served and limited table numbers inside venues such as pubs to a maximum of six people.
Nightclubs are also closed in Wales, and will be closed in Northern Ireland on New Year’s Eve.
UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid confirmed England has not followed the other nations in bringing in restrictions before the end of the year.
What time is Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement?
The First Minister is expected to give an update on restrictions and Covid statistics in Scotland between 2pm and 2.30pm in Parliament on Wednesday.
How can I watch it?
The announcement will be livestreamed on Scottish Parliament TV and broadcast on the BBC Scotland TV channel.
You can also follow a liveblog on our website.
What has the FM said so far?
In a statement on Tuesday, Sturgeon repeated her call for people to “get boosted by the bells”.
She said: “The significantly increased transmissibility of Omicron is reflected in the steep increase in cases now materialising, and we would expect to see case numbers rise further in the days to come.”
💉 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
READ MORE: Pub chain owner 'bars' Nicola Sturgeon – despite having no venues in Scotland
The SNP leader urged people to comply with the latest guidance over the New Year period, adding: “We must not underestimate the impact of Omicron.”
What are the latest figures?
Covid statistics normally published by the Scottish Government every day have been paused over Christmas, but Sturgeon is due to give a full update on the figures when she addresses MSPs on Wednesday.
The provisional updates on daily case numbers over the festive period are as follows: December 25: 8252 cases December 26: 11,030 cases December 27: 10,562 cases December 28: 9360 cases.
While the data covers tests reported in the preceding 24-hour period, a lag in reporting means that the majority of these cases will relate to tests done before the Christmas break.
Earlier this week, members of the public reported waiting up to four days for a PCR test result in Scotland, which should normally take 24 hours.
National clinical director of Scotland Professor Jason Leitch said after speaking to test and protect staff on Monday, the backlog was cleared and the wait for test results should have resumed to normal – between 24 and 36 hours.
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