Here are the headlines from the first minister's Covid update:

• Nicola Sturgeon confirms a record 15,849 Covid cases were recorded across Scotland on Tuesday
• She says there will be no changes to the current Covid mitigations in Scotland
• A total of 679 people were in hospital on Tuesday with recently-confirmed Covid and 36 people are in intensive care
• A further three deaths have been reported following a positive test
• Omicron accounts for about 80% of Scottish cases
• Over the last week, the number of reported Covid cases overall has increased by 47%

• The first minister warns it is likely there will be "steep increases" in the days and possibly weeks ahead
• She says the current surge would have been higher but for the fact that people cut down in their social interactions in the run-up to Christmas.

• Ms Sturgeon outlines details of £100m in business support, including £32m to hospitality and leisure
• The FM urges people to stay at home more than they normally would over Hogmanay and New Year’s Day, and for at least the first week in January.
• Covid testing slots will be prioritised for essential workers – such as NHS and transport staff – as well as for those who are clinically vulnerable or eligible for new Covid treatments.

• Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross calls for the isolation period to be reduced from 10 days to seven if people can produce a negative test.
• He also asks why businesses are still waiting for financial support to come through.
• Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar asks the first minister to share the scientific advice behind the current 10-day isolation period.
• Mr Sarwar also asks about business support and highlights the plight of the taxi sector, as well as problems accessing testing.
• Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton asks what further support will be available to the hospitality sector if the Scottish government extends restrictions beyond 17 January.

That's all for our live coverage of the first minister's statement today. Thanks for joining us and please stay safe.

Image source, Getty Images

Willie Rennie of the Lib Dems asks Ms Sturgeon to address the "anxious families" of people in care homes who may be worried about visiting being stopped.

Ms Sturgeon agrees that safe visiting is "vitally important" both to the mental health of residents and to their loved ones.

She gives an assurance that visiting in care homes is a priority and she wants to continue to support its safe practice.

Image source, Getty Images

The SNP's Rona Mackay asks the first minister to highlight support services available for young people given a recent rise in domestic abuse.

Ms Sturgeon says the current conditions people are living under increases the risk to children, young people and those vulnerable to domestic abuse.

She highlights the number for Childline which is 0800 1111 and says anyone else with concerns for a child should contact Police Scotland on 999.

For concerns about children who are not in immediate danger, Ms Sturgeon says these should be shared with the local authority's social work department.

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Labour's Jackie Baillie asks about the anti-viral medication which reduces people getting seriously ill with Covid.

She asks whether the FM will review the criteria for the medication as it leaves out some people who are shielding. She also asks whether the PCR test system will be streamlined in order to improve access to medication.

The first minister says although she wants to see access to anti-viral treatment to expand, she thinks it is right for clinicians to continue to advise on eligibility issues.

She adds that work is ongoing to improve PCT testing and prioritisation will be made for essential workers, for the clinically vulnerable and those who are eligible for anti-viral treatments

How do the hospital figures compare?published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2021

15:08 GMT 29 December 2021

Susie Forrest
Health producer, BBC Scotland

There are now 679 people with confirmed coronavirus being treated in hospital in Scotland - an increase of 80 (13%) on yesterday's figure and the highest total since 1 December, when it stood at 702.

Back in September that figure was more than 1,000, and at the peak last January it was over 2,000.

The greatest rises in the last week have been seen in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde (76) and Lanarkshire (26) health board areas, but Fife (13), Ayrshire (15), Tayside (11) and Dumfries and Galloway (seven) all saw numbers increase.

There's no up-to-date information on daily hospital admissions or whether most people are being treated for Covid or testing positive incidentally, while being treated for other things.

There are currently 36 recently-diagnosed Covid patients in intensive care, as well as 15 who were diagnosed more than 28 days ago. That figure has been steady for a few weeks.

A total of 3,316 NHS staff were absent in the last week for Covid-related reasons. That's the highest since March and compares to 1,771 at the end of November, when Omicron arrived.

Image source, SNS

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane highlights the "inconsistencies" in decision-making as shopping streets are "heaving" in comparison to football stadiums.

He adds the sport plays a valuable role in mental health and asks if additional support will be provided to protect the mental health of fans.

The first minister says she doesn't take the decisions that have been made lightly but they are designed to protect against the higher transmissibility of the variant.

Ms Sturgeon adds major events also put a strain on emergency services.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton says he met with hospitality representatives who say the financial support on offer will only last them three days.

He asks what further support will be available if the Scottish government extends restrictions beyond 17 January.

Ms Sturgeon says the money on offer is proportionately larger than in England, but she believes it is not enough and says there needs to be a response from the UK government.

She adds that she does not think it would be helpful to "speculate" beyond 17 January.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Sarwar also asks about business support and highlights the plight of the taxi sector.

The first minister says the taxi sector is "very much in the minds" of ministers as they reach decisions on how the remainder of funding will be allocated.

The Scottish Labour leader follows up by highlighting problems with accessing testing.

He asks what action is being taken to increase testing capacity, availability of tests and the speed of results.

Mr Sarwar adds: "Testing is the way to get us through this crisis".

The first minister says there will be "fluctuations in availability" but urges people to keep checking as new slots are added throughout the day.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says staff absences are spiking now and having a knock-on effect on public services.

He asks the first minister if she can share the scientific advice behind the current 10-day isolation period.

Ms Sturgeon says she has already recognised the burden the rules are placing on businesses and many services across the country.

She adds she will make them more proportionate when they can be.

Ms Sturgeon says the science is all to do with the incubation period and adds that people can still test positive after seven days.

Worst-case scenario may have been avoidedpublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 29 December 2021

14:50 GMT 29 December 2021

Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

The data is jumping around a bit just now - in part because of reporting delays over Christmas, but also due to strains in the system as more people come forward for tests.

Almost 16,000 daily positive cases is probably in tune with the central estimates of modellers, but we could still see a sharp rise over the next few days as the data starts to catch up.

It may be that the worst-case scenario has been avoided because people have adapted their behaviour even before restrictions were brought in.

For the first time in five days there is information on the numbers of people in hospital with Covid. It shows a small rise, but not a huge spike. Good news - but remember the early Omicron cases would largely be in young people who are less likely to become severely ill.

We are still to see the impact of mixing across generations over Christmas.

Early data from London shows hospital admissions with Omicron are lower, even in older age groups, and that the number of people needing intensive care is even less.

It also appears that many cases are incidental, with patients admitted for something else and then testing positive.

But the experts continue to warn that even if Omicron is milder, a small proportion of a large number has the potential to cause major disruption for the NHS.

We still don’t know when the peak of this wave will hit, and how good boosters will be at protecting the most vulnerable. Scientists will say it is still too early to draw any firm conclusions from the data.

Mr Ross asks why businesses are still waiting for financial support to come through.

He also points out reports of PCR testing taking up to four days to return results and asks what is being done to ensure people get access to tests and get results quickly.

The FM says that money will flow to businesses "as quickly as possible" and that money was being signed off as she spoke.

On the testing issue, she says an administrative error restricted slots at physical sites across the UK and this had been rectified.

However, she adds the testing system will also be suffering from staff absences because of Covid, which she says highlights the need to take "careful decisions".

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross says his party has been calling for a change to rules on self-isolation.

He wants the isolation period to be reduced from 10 days to seven if people can produce a negative test and asks the FM what it will take before she makes this decision.

Ms Sturgeon says it is important not to get "carried away" by the initial studies on hospitalisation rates.

She says if people are released from isolation while they are still infectious, this could relieve pressure on the economy in the short term but increase it for longer in the medium to long term.

Because of the "fluctuation" in cases over the Christmas period, she says she needs to see those figures settle.

Image source, Getty Images

The first minister says 75% of those eligible for a booster or a third dose have now received one.

She adds: "That represents excellent progress, but to deliver maximum benefits, we need maximum numbers to get boosted as quickly as possible.

"We want to get to - or as close as possible to - the target of having 80% of eligible adults boosted by the bells."

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Covid testing slots will be prioritised for essential workers – such as NHS and transport staff – as well as for those who are clinically vulnerable or eligible for new Covid treatments, the FM says.

She adds: "This ensures that essential workers get the test results they need to qualify for an exemption promptly."

Ms Sturgeon emphasises that testing remains available for anyone who needs it.

Current restrictions on hospitality and large gatherings will be in place until 17 January, Ms Sturgeon confirms.

For indoor standing events, the limit is 100 and for indoor seated events, 200. For outdoor events, it is 500 seated or standing.

She says this is partly because of the opportunity for the virus to spread and because such events place "significant demands" on emergency services.

The FM urges people to stay at home more than they normally would over Hogmanay and New Year’s Day, and for at least the first week in January.

She urges people to limit the size of any indoor social gatherings to no more than three households.

And she encourages people to continue taking lateral flow tests before mixing with others.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon adds decisions have been reached on the allocation of £207m of the £375m being made available for business support.

She says: "Councils are now working to get that money into bank accounts as fast as possible."

The first minister also confirms decisions on the allocation of the remaining funds will be confirmed following consultation with affected sectors.

The first minister gives details about how the first £100m of additional support for businesses - which was announced before Christmas - will be allocated.

She confirms:

• £16m will be made available to support public transport providers through existing Covid support schemes.

• £27m will go to the culture sector, and a further £17m to the events sector.

• £32m will be allocated to hospitality and leisure businesses, with an additional £10m for those parts of the hospitality industry most severely impacted by the requirement for table service.

• And up to £5m will be available for nightclubs required to close.

Ms Sturgeon also confirms she is "working closely" with the sports sector to make sure any support is "effectively targeted".

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon says the impact of Omicron on hospital admissions will be a figure the government watches "closely" - and it will inform its response in the weeks ahead.

She says studies have suggested the rate of hospitalisation from the variant is "possibly significantly lower" than others, which is "grounds for optimism".

However, she highlights the lag time between infection and hospitalisations, as well as the reported increase in hospital occupancy here - which she says is the "biggest in some time".