Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon confirms the lifting of restrictions on large outdoor events in Scotland from Monday, 17 January. This will allow fans to return in their thousands to football and rugby matches

  • The current rules around social distancing, table service and mask wearing in pubs and restaurants will remain in place

  • The first minister also says that as restrictions are lifted it might be necessary to extend "the scope" of vaccine certificates

  • Ms Sturgeon adds: "To be clear, we have not yet taken any decisions on this and it will require careful judgment."

  • Scottish Conservative Party leader Douglas Ross says the public are already learning to live with the virus and he believes people will be dismayed at a vaccine passport scheme extension

  • In her statement, the FM says that the current wave of the virus in Scotland is "at or near to the peak"

  • The latest on cases shows that there were 10,392 new positive PCR tests which represents 27.7% of all lab tests undertaken

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

  1. Scotland 'may be at or close to Omicron peak'

    The Omicron variant is still causing high levels of infection, but Ms Sturgeon says the measures in place have helped to mitigate the Omicron wave.

    It is very likely the situation we face now would have been more challenging had sacrifices not been made in earlier weeks, she says.

    We can see early indications that the situation in Scotland is starting to improve, the first minister adds.

    There is "some hope that cases may be at or close to the peak".

  2. Fan restrictions at outdoor events to be lifted
    Breaking

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    Restrictions on attendance levels at live outdoor events will be removed from next Monday, Nicola Sturgeon confirms.

  3. Nicola Sturgeon begins update to Holyrood

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is on her feet, and has begun her address to the Scottish Parliament.

    She begins by telling MSPs that she will update them on the current course of the pandemic in Scotland.

    Although there are still "significant uncertainties", there's grounds for cautious optimism that the measures in place have had a positive impact.

    Measures introduced before Christmas will begin to be removed from next week, she says, starting with the restrictions on live outdoor events.

  4. Coming up

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    Nicola Sturgeon is about to begin her Covid update at Holyrood.

    Stick with us for all the breaking news and analysis.

  5. Intensive care numbers static

    The latest Scottish government data shows that as of 10 January, 54 people were in intensive care with recently-confirmed Covid. This is the same total as the previous day.

    A total of 1,479 people were in hospital yesterday with recently-confirmed Covid, up from 1,432 on 9 January.

  6. Latest Covid data released - 16 new deaths reported

    Scottish government figures for 11 January show:

    • 10,392 new cases of Covid reported in the last 24 hours*
    • 27.7% of the 43,739 new tests that reported results were positive
    • 16 new reported deaths of people who have tested positive

    *These are cases confirmed by a PCR test only

  7. Your Questions Answered

    My son is positive and still has positive lateral flow tests. Now I have Covid and my isolation ends after his. Does he need to isolate again as my close contact?

    Question from Sue in Bearsden

    Once your son has completed his 10 days isolation, he is able to return to his normal life - and school - provided that his symptoms have gone (or if the only symptoms he has left are a cough or anosmia).

    However, you must self-isolate for 10 days from when your own symptoms started (or from when you tested positive).

  8. Your questions answered

    In the build-up to Ms Sturgeon's statement, and while MSPs are responding, we'll be answering your questions on the big Covid issues.

    The first one here is from Sue in Bearsden.

  9. Measures to treat Covid patients at home and free up hospital beds

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    Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, second left, previously visiting hospital patients

    With Covid admissions rising more than they did last winter, the demand on hospitals is still severe.

    Earlier today the Scottish government announced a number of measures to monitor Covid patients at home in order to free up hospital beds.

    These include:

    • £500,000 to fund 25,000 remote monitoring kits
    • A dedicated team to identify patients who would be suitable for antivirals treatments
    • An expansion of programmes including Hospital at Home, Community Respiratory pathways and services for managing infections

    Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "All of this builds on work already under way as part of our £300m investment in health and care services and winter preparations, to help maximise capacity, support the wellbeing of our fantastic health and care staff, support flow through the system and improve outcomes.”

  10. First minister likely to lift restrictions on large outdoor events

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    The lifting of restrictions on large outdoor events in Scotland is expected to be announced this afternoon.

    The move would allow football fans to return to stadiums when the Scottish Premiership's winter break ends next week.

    It will also avoid Scotland's Six Nations rugby matches having to be played behind closed doors at Murrayfield.

    Read the full story here.

  11. Good afternoon

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    Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the Scottish government's coronavirus update.

    The first minister is due to address Holyrood at about 14:20 with possible changes to Covid restrictions high on the agenda.

    We will bring you all the updates and analysis here, and you can watch events at Holyrood by clicking on the tabs above.