New Covid strain 'becoming dominant' in Scotland - Sturgeon
- Published
Mainland Scotland is in the highest level of measures to contain the new strain of the virus
The new variant of Covid-19 is "fast becoming the dominant one in Scotland", Nicola Sturgeon has said, as daily infections hit a fresh record high.
A further 2,045 cases were logged on Wednesday, the highest tally for a single day since mass testing began.
The whole Scottish mainland is in the highest level of restrictions in a bid to contain the new strain of the virus.
But the first minister said she could not rule out having to tighten measures even further in the coming days.
Ms Sturgeon said ministers were continuing to assess whether it will be possible to reopen schools in full from 18 January.
Although the number of cases reported on Wednesday showed a slight increase from the 1,895 reported on Tuesday, the percentage of tests that were positive (11.3%) had decreased.
A total of 43 deaths of people who tested positive for the virus were recorded, although registrar offices were closed over the public holidays.
Hospital admissions are at 1,133 while 69 people are in intensive care.
Speaking at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said the "significant number of new cases" underlined "the severity of the situation we face right now".
The first minister said an increasing number of positive tests coming back from laboratories appeared to be of the new variant of Covid-19.
She said Public Health Scotland analysis suggested 42.8% of positive tests processed for Scotland in the Lighthouse labs had the S gene drop out that indicated the new strain.
Ms Sturgeon said: "This new strain appears to be fast becoming the dominant one circulating in Scotland, and that is obviously a cause for real concern given it is thought to be significantly more transmissible.
"The severity of this challenge means we simply cannot rule out the need for restrictions that are even tighter than those in the current level four.
"We continue to assess the situation carefully, on a daily basis."
The first minister repeated a warning for people not to hold parties or mix with others at Hogmanay, saying it was "really vital" people "see in 2021 in our own homes with just our own households".
And she said "literally over the next few days we will be assessing the situation" with schools, although the current assumption remains that pupils will return to classrooms full-time from 18 January.
Nicola Sturgeon said the situation was being reviewed on a daily basis
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said many parents would wonder if schools could really return to face-to-face teaching, and were "worried about the implications of a return to home learning".
And Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said "we need to be honest and accept that schools cannot go back until the situation is under control and the role schools play in transmission of the new strain is understood".
Ms Sturgeon said decisions over schools were "very sensitive", adding that "we will continue to put the safety of pupils, staff and teachers first".
New vaccine
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed earlier on Wednesday that the rollout of the newly-approved Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will begin on Monday 4 January.
She said for the initial period the injections would be given in a supervised setting near hospitals.
After that, the jabs will take place in GP surgeries as well as community vaccination hubs.
Scotland will get 8.2% of the overall number of UK doses, in line with its share of the population.
The UK has ordered 100 million doses of the new vaccine - enough for 50 million people.
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