Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to give a special coronavirus update on Wednesday in the Scottish Parliament.
No Scottish Government Covid update was planned until after the festive period, but fears about the new strain and the move to tough level four restrictions saw plans change.
MSPs have been recalled to hear the update from the First Minister at a special sitting at Holyrood on Wednesday afternoon.
The Scottish Government will agree if there are to be any changes to the current rules, which saw mainland Scotland put under tough level four restrictions from at least three weeks from Boxing Day.
And after concerns about how the NHS is coping, as well as fears about the new variant being up to 70 per cent more transmissible, its likely the First Minister will address plans for the return of schools.
Most pupils will not return to class until at least 18 January under current plans, with a hybrid learning planned for the first two weeks of term after schools return.
There has been some speculation this period could potentially be extended, and a leading social scientist said the new strain of Covid-19 has "changed the game" of getting children back to school.
How to watch the update
The First Minister's update will be in the Scottish Parliament, rather than the usual format of the daily briefing. She will face questions from MSPs after the update.
The First Minister is currently scheduled to speak from around 3.30pm.
You will be able to watch the update on the Scottish Parliament TV website, on the BBC, and we will also bring live as it happens coverage and analysis on what it means for you.
