Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon delivers her SNP conference speech after briefing Scotland on the new Covid-19 variant Omicron

  • She told her party's members in a virtual address that the pandemic posed "big and very real challenges ahead over the winter months"

  • At a briefing earlier, she said six Omicron cases had been identified in Scotland. Those who have tested positive are not in hospital and there is no indication the variant is widespread in Scotland

  • Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Gregor Smith adds that there is no evidence globally that anyone has died from the Omicron strain, but it is still "too early" to know for sure

  • The first minister calls for travel rules to be tightened and adds that she has written to the PM asking for tougher measures such as requiring arrivals to the UK to isolate for eight days

  • She says she is not asking the public at this time to put their Christmas holiday plans on hold

  • Ms Sturgeon asks the public to take lateral flow tests before they go shopping or socialise. She urges everyone: "Make sure we don't let our guard slip."

  1. 'No pressure to change travel plans yet'published at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    People are not being asked to cancel plans to travel at this stage, Ms Sturgeon says.

    "If you're making plans, you have to be aware of the context we are in just now and we might be in over the next few weeks," she adds.

    She notes that other countries are taking decisions to try to limit entry of the variant into their territories.

    The situation is changing quickly and conditions when you book your trip might not be the same when you go to travel, Ms Sturgeon points out.

  2. Sturgeon hoping business support will not be neededpublished at 11:41 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    for sale signImage source, Getty Images

    Ms Sturgeon says she is seeking assurance from the UK government about business support, such as if a circuit breaker had to be introduced, but she hopes that public health protections mean that no extra restrictions will be required.

    She says the Scottish government is making sure they are "not stopped from doing what is necessary in a public health sense by the of lack of support".

  3. FM says it would be 'foolish' to rule out new mitigationspublished at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    Dan Barker from PA asks if the first minister is confident that the current measures will stop the Omicron variant spreading, or is it too late?

    He asks if the strain expands, could vaccine certification be stepped up?

    Ms Sturgeon says that all along she has tried to say it is "foolish" to rule things out and it is sensible to keep our minds open.

    Quote Message

    We don't know yet what the transmissibility of this new variant is so we can't say for certain the current measures will be sufficient against it. But we do know they will have an impact, so if we keep doing these things we will have a greater chance of keeping a downward pressure on this."

    Nicola Sturgeon, First minister

  4. 'No sign' that children will be worse hit by Omicronpublished at 11:29 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    child wearing maskImage source, Getty Images

    ITV Border asks if there is any information on how Omicron affects children, in particular with parties, Santa visits and increased socialising coming up and if parents should stop youngsters from mixing.

    Ms Sturgeon says that she is asking people to comply strictly with the current restrictions and that if any changes are to take place she will set this out clearly in the days and weeks to come.

    Dr Smith adds that there is an age gradient in all the versions of the virus, with older people worst affected and younger people least affected.

    He says there is nothing to suggest the new variant is any different.

  5. Analysis

    FM calls for tighter travel rules and Treasury supportpublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    Glenn Campbell
    BBC Scotland Political Editor

    No new Covid protections were announced by the first minister but clearly the Scottish government is keeping that under review.

    And Nicola Sturgeon has made clear that she favours stricter rules - UK wide - for international arrivals.

    There is already a quarantine requirement for those coming to the UK from a range of countries in southern Africa that have been added to the “red list”.

    PCR tests within 48 hours for all international arrivals are also being brought in across the four nations.

    Ms Sturgeon and her counterpart in Wales, Mark Drakeford have now written to the prime minister suggesting an eight-day self-isolation period for all those arriving in the UK from abroad.

    This is being suggested as an additional precaution as scientists try to work out how dangerous, or otherwise, the Omicron variant is.

    The first ministers are also seeking assurances that the Treasury would support any new Covid measures, should they be required.

    But Nicola Sturgeon stressed that she hopes a return to restrictions will not be necessary.

  6. 'No known deaths from the new variant'published at 11:23 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    Gregor SmithImage source, Scottish government

    Dr Gregor Smith goes on to say they are not aware of anyone who has died globally after coming into contact with the Omicron variant.

    "I have to stress that this is the very early stages of our understanding and it will increase really quite markedly even over the coming days," he says.

  7. Dr Gregor Smith explains genetic clue to new casespublished at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    Chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith is alongside Ms Sturgeon to give his insight on clinical issues.

    He says that Omicron is showing "S gene dropout" on PCR testing which is easily identified on a PCR test, similar to the Alpha variant.

    He says this gives us an advantage allowing it to be identified more quickly.

    This can help public health teams to make a faster response to a positive case.

    Dr Smith says that looking back to 16 November, this S gene dropout was appearing again and this has allowed scientists to look back and see when the cases may have begun to appear.

  8. Christmas 'not on hold' yetpublished at 11:15 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    christmas shoppersImage source, PA Media

    Responding to a question about whether Christmas plans should be put on hold, Ms Sturgeon says she is not asking for that yet.

    People should increase "protection" measures, she adds, and maximise our chances of limiting the spread of the variant without the need for further measures.

  9. FM: 'Not impossible but not probable that cases are linked to COP26'published at 11:12 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    covid crowdsImage source, PA Media

    Katie Hunter from BBC Scotland asks the first question - requesting more information on the additional testing and whether the cases may be linked to the COP26 summit in Glasgow earlier in November.

    The first minister says that no information suggests the cases are linked to the conference, but that contact tracing continues and she cannot guarantee it is not the case.

    She says considering the timelines it is "not impossible but also not probable" that the cases came from COP.

    She believes surveillance would have picked up more widespread transmission of the variant if this was the case.

  10. Analysis

    Plenty more to learn about Omicron variantpublished at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    Lisa Summers
    BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

    There are still many unanswered questions about the new Omicron variant and, as most experts say, it is too early to answer them.

    Scientists are working at speed to try and understand more about how transmissible it is and what impact it might have on the protection vaccines offer?

    There is no evidence at this stage to suggest it causes more severe disease but there is plenty more to learn.

    Additional testing and enhanced surveillance are being put in place to monitor the new variant in Scotland and try to break chains of transmission.

    What we know for now is that cases in Scotland are "stable" and that vaccines are highly effective against the dominant Delta strain and are likely to give some protection against Omicron. So getting a booster when eligible, or a first or second jag, is the best course of action for now.

  11. 'Basic measures are more important than ever'published at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    face maskImage source, Getty Images

    Ms Sturgeon ends by reminding everyone to keep sticking to mitigations that have always worked to mitigate the risks.

    These are:

    • get vaccinated
    • test regularly for Covid and on any occasion you intend to socialise
    • face coverings and hand washing
    • keep windows open to improve ventilation
    • work from home if possible

    She says sticking to these measures - which are more important than ever - will ensure we have the "best possible chance" to enjoy a more normal Christmas.

  12. 'Planning for the worst, but hoping for the best'published at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    The first minister says she is planning for the worst but hoping for the best, and hoping that a developing understanding of the variant will reduce concerns.

    She is seeking assurance from the UK Treasury that funding will be available for business support schemes, if they are needed again.

  13. Increased testing for travellers suggestedpublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    airportImage source, Getty Images

    Although travel restrictions have already been increased, Scotland needs to reduce transmission at home because the variant has been detected in this country, Ms Sturgeon says.

    She is hoping for a four-nations approach to travel.

    The FM has written a joint letter with Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford to Prime Minster Boris Johnson asking for increased measures for people travelling into the UK.

    She has requested that they take a PCR test on day eight as well as day two.

  14. 'Test yourself before mixing socially with other households'published at 10:54 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    covid testImage source, Getty Images

    Ms Sturgeon goes over the actions being taken to tackle the new development.

    She says that:

    • travel restrictions have already been reintroduced and are important.
    • Given the virus is already here, other measures may need to be taken.

    The FM mentions the return of measures in England such as face coverings, which are already in place in Scotland.

    She asks people in Scotland to "step up" their baseline mitigations - face masks, sanitising, testing yourself with lateral flow devises and asks us from now on to test ourselves before mixing socially with other households.

    Ms Sturgeon reminds people to work from home if possible and asks employers to maximise the potential for home working.

    She adds that this is likely to be a "fast-moving situation".

  15. Some community transmission in Scotlandpublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    Ms Sturgeon says surveillance has been stepped up in recent days and thanks public health teams for the work they are doing to help detect cases of the variant quickly.

    Contact tracing is ongoing for the six people who have tested positive for the Omicron variant, but not all have any recent travel history or links with others who have travelled to countries in southern Africa, where the variant was first detected last week.

    "This suggests that there might already be some community transmission of this variant in Scotland, but there is no evidence yet that this is sustained nor any evidence that it is widespread at this stage," she says.

  16. 'The most challenging development for some time'published at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    Ms Sturgeon says that we should treat the situation seriously and act on a precautionary basis.

    She hopes the more we learn, the more our concern can reduce.

    But she says that this is "the most challenging development in the course of the pandemic" for some time.

  17. Omicron may be more transmissable - FMpublished at 10:43 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    sturgeon

    Ms Sturgeon says there is still a lot we do not know about the Omicron variant but that early indications from South Africa suggest it may be more transmissable than the Delta variant.

    She adds the WHO says preliminary evidence shows there may be evidence Omnicron may have an increased risk of reinfection.

    The FM says there is currently no information that the symptoms are any different or that the disease caused by the variant is more severe.

  18. Nicola Sturgeon: Overall situation is still 'stable'published at 10:37 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    The first minister opens her statement by confirming the overall Covid situation is stable with cases declining slightly.

    She says the Omicron situation is concerning and that she will set out everything we know so far about the situation and the action she intends to take to tackle it.

  19. Coming uppublished at 10:32 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    Nicola Sturgeon will shortly give a briefing on the latest developments with coronavirus in Scotland.

    She will be joined by Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Gregor Smith.

    Stay with us for full overage and analysis. You can also watch it on BBC Scotland or by clicking on one of the tabs above.

    The first minister's briefing will then be followed by her keynote speech to the SNP party conference.

  20. Will the vaccination programme be extended?published at 10:25 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2021

    The Joint Committee on Vaccine and immunisation (JCVI) is expected to announce later if it will recommend expansion of the Covid booster scheme.

    Nine cases of the Omicron variant have been found in the UK so far and Number 10 has set out measures to contain it.

    Prof Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said it would be "sensible" to cut time between doses and extend boosters to the under-40s.

    Boosters are currently offered to over-40s, frontline health or social workers, and those with certain health issues.

    Public health expert Devi Sridhar, from the University of Edinburgh, would like to see moves to vaccinate younger children.

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