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• The Omicron variant will become the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Scotland by Friday, overtaking Delta - which will "drive an even more rapid increase in cases".
• First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said 45% of the 5,951 Covid cases reported on Thursday were suspected to be the new variant.
• Scots are being urged to reduce contact with other households "as much as you possibly can", including limiting socialising to three households at a time in the run-up to Christmas amid fears of a "tsunami" of new infections.
• Detailed guidance for business has been published, external for shops and hospitality venues.
• It is designed to reduce the spread of the virus, with firms asked to enforce physical distancing, cut down on crowding in shops and at bars, and enable staff to work from home wherever possible.
• The Scottish government has revised its booster target down from 70,000 to 61,000 a day between now and the end of the year. This would be enough to reach 80% of those eligible for the jab before January.
• Scotland broke its booster record on Wednesday with 54,104 jabs given.
• Ms Sturgeon also told MSPs that she has asked to speak to the prime minister later today about financial support for businesses.

Finally, the SNP's Jim Fairlie asks Ms Sturgeon to update parliament on the most recent Cobra meeting with the UK government.

The first minister says that meeting was on Wednesday afternoon and was the second in a week. She says it is important that they happen and that yesterday's session was chaired by Michael Gove.

She says that she, and the first ministers of Wales and Northern Ireland raised the point about the need for funding support.

She hopes the PM and chancellor both engage directly in the meetings from now on as it is a "serious" situation we are facing.

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Tory MSP Sandesh Gulhane notes that in addition to the classic Covid symptoms of a cough, fever and loss or change in sense of taste and smell, more symptoms are being associated with the Omicron variant.

He says this includes headaches, night sweats, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, a runny nose and scratchy throats.

Dr Gulhane asks the first minister if she will consider asking the UK's chief medical officers to add these other symptoms to the criteria for a PCR test.

Ms Sturgeon replies that this is a very good point. She says symptoms of Covid are constantly under review by experts.

She adds that anyone who is concerned they might have Covid should go for a PCR test.

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SNP MSP Emma Harper asks the FM to join her in thanking all staff and volunteers for their "stunning and braw" efforts in making Scotland the first nation to give a booster to more than half of the adult population.

Ms Sturgeon says all staff are doing "heroic work" and she "cannot find the words" to properly convey the depth of her appreciation and gratitude.

She adds that as they build capacity, they need people to come forward, book their appointments and get us out of the other end of the challenge with Omicron.

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SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson says NHS Ayrshire and Arran has suspended all visiting despite the FM's statement on Tuesday that it was important for patients not to be isolated.

Mr Gibson asks the first minister if she can take steps to ensure patients in Ayrshire can receive visitors this Christmas.

Ms Sturgeon says that discussions have taken place with the health board and says she has been assured that this decision will be revised.

She says that no one should be isolated in hospital over Christmas and reminds anyone seeing a loved one in hospital to take a lateral flow test ahead of any visits.

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Scottish pop band Deacon Blue have postponed the last two shows of their tour over concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid.

Lead singer Ricky Ross tweeted that he was "disappointed" the authorities had not made any decision about live gigs.

"However it's clear to us Deacon Blue should not be playing and people shouldn't be asked to attend gigs just now," he said.

Scottish Trad Music band Skerryvore also postponed their last five shows.

Read the full story here

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While the first minister has been speaking, the Scottish government has published its latest guidance for businesses and work spaces to deal with the pandemic.

The details set out extra restrictions, external in law and advice which come into force from one minute past midnight on Friday.

They include the reintroduction of greater physical distancing in shops and supermarkets such as the installation of plastic screens and one-way systems where feasible at entry points and exits.

In pubs, the guidance stops short of mandating table service for customers but does say it is "strongly encouraged".

However what it calls "major life events" such as weddings and funerals are allowed to carry on without additional restrictions.

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On Tuesday, the first minister's set out a range of measures the Scottish government wanted to take to slow down the transmission of the Omicron variant.

In some cases, she said changes would be made to the law to make these things enforceable. In other cases, she offered guidance.

Find out what is guidance and what is law.

Scotland has the toughest Covid rules and guidance in the UK at the moment.

But Nicola Sturgeon announced said the Scottish government would have liked to go further.

Read why Scotland doesn't have tougher Covid measures.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says businesses are anxious about the impact of Omicron and do not appreciate "politics or bickering".

He urges the Scottish and UK governments to work together.

Mr Sarwar then goes on to ask about cancer treatment, highlighting fears over cancer patients waiting for diagnosis and treatment.

He asks the FM what she's doing to prevent a "cancer catastrophe".

Ms Sturgeon says her government is working through investments into early diagnosis to make sure people get "speedy" treatment for cancer.

However, she acknowledges that there is "continued and increasing" pressure on health services as a result of the pandemic.

Cancer services will continue to be prioritised, she adds, but acknowledges that they have been impacted.

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Mr Ross says businesses were still waiting this morning for guidance in order to comply with the First Minister's statement on Tuesday.

Ms Sturgeon says more detailed guidance will be online shortly, and that we are facing a variant of the virus spreading faster than anything we have seen so far, with an R number possibly above 4.

She says "we do not have time to waste" on vaccination or in putting in place protective measures to slow this variant down.

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The Scottish government has revised its booster target down from 70,000 to 61,000 a day between now and the end of the year.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said it would be enough to reach 80% of those eligible for the jab before January.

Scotland broke its booster record on Wednesday with 54,104 jabs given.

A speedy booster programme is considered vital in tackling the threat of the Omicron variant, which is much more infectious than other strains.

A Public Health Scotland report has warned that the "predicted exponential increases" in Omicron cases could put "significant pressure" on hospitals in coming weeks.

Read more

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Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross starts the questions.

He says the vaccination scheme has delivered a booster to half of all 18-year-olds and thanks health staff, forces and volunteers.

He brings up the issue of mass vaccination centres as he has in previous weeks.

He asks how many mass centres will reopen and start vaccinating people.

Ms Sturgeon makes the point that someone vaccinated today will not have immune protection for several days.

She says that no matter how fast the vaccines go, the variant runs faster. She says that while we speed up the vaccination programme, we must also act now to slow the virus.

She runs through extra vaccination facilities including Hampden Park, Ingliston, Ravenscraig and EICC. She says more are under preparation.

She hopes to get to the 70,000 a day she wants to get to, albeit by de-prioritising the flu vaccination programme.

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Ms Sturgeon says she is concerned about the impact Omicron will have on businesses.

She says there are "simply no mechanisms available to the devolved administrations" to offer the scale of financial support required.

She calls for urgent action from the UK government.

"We must not sleepwalk into an emergency that for health and business will be much greater as a result of inaction than if we act firmly and strongly now," she says.

Ms Sturgeon adds that she has asked to speak to the prime minister later today about financial support for businesses.

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The first minister outlines the consequences of not bringing infections under control, which she says will be significant.

She stresses that - so far - there is no evidence that Omicron symptoms are milder.

Many will still become severely unwell and die, and the sheer number of peole infected will still present a massive challenge, Ms Sturgeon says.

"If we don't act now, what we have feared all along but so far avoided - the NHS being overwhelmed - could happen," she warns.

She adds that it is a "really serious" situation.

"Please stay at home much more than you normally would and as much as is feasible," she implores the public.

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The FM says that Omicron is running faster than even the fastest rollout of vaccines and says we must also act to slow the virus down.

She says that hospital admissions are rising in London which is heavily affected by the variant.

Ms Sturgeon says a surge in infections is impacting the NHS and is already causing staff absences which will affect essential services.

She reiterated the current guidance - to limit contact with other people as much as possible.

She also says that by acting to reduce community transmission we will help to keep schools open and protect education.

Omicron will be the dominant Covid strain in Scotland by tomorrow, the first minister says.

She is "profoundly concerned" by the challenge Omicron poses.

5,951 Covid cases were reported yesterday, the FM says.

45.4% of cases now show the S-gene drop out indicative of Omicron, she adds.

"It, therefore, seems likely that by tomorrow Omicron will be the dominant strain circulating in Scotland."

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The escalation of the Omicron variant is likely to dominate the opposition's questions today.

Full updated guidance is due from the Scottish government as the vaccination booster programme is ramped up.

Calls for help from the hospitality sector may also merit discussion and the prospect of further restrictions around the festive period may also be mentioned.

Labour's Anas Sarwar has been championing the infection crisis at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital at FMQs of late, so that may also come up.

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Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of first minister's questions.

Nicola Sturgeon is due on her feet at noon.

We will bring you all the developments and you can watch the live stream from Holyrood using the tabs above.