Four cases of a new coronavirus variant first discovered in India have been found in Scotland.
Public Health England reported 77 cases of the strain across the UK in its latest weekly data - with four of them detected north of the border.
The B.1.617 variant is said to carry mutations which could make it easier to spread, while there are fears it could evade immunity.
It has been suggested that the variant has played a part in a recent spike in coronavirus cases in India.
The country recorded a record high of more than 200,000 new daily infections yesterday.
The strain has been identified by health officials are a ‘Variant Under Investigation’ (VUI).
A statement from the UK Government says that public health interventions will be taken to prevent the strain from spreading further.
Enhanced contact tracing will take place in areas where the variant has been identified.
It remains unclear as to where in Scotland the infections have come from.
The variant was first discovered by scientists in India in March and was described as a ‘double mutant’ by government officials.
They suggested that the mutation had formed as a hybrid of two other strains.
Other coronavirus strains dubbed as ‘Variants of Concern’ by Public Health Scotland include ones first discovered in South Africa and Brazil.
Another is the so-called ‘Kent variant’ which caused the UK to be plunged back into lockdown following a huge spike in cases over the winter.
Four months of tight restrictions has caused the number of new infections to plummet - with cases declining by 85% compared to those seen in early January.
The number of people who have received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine has now exceeded 2.7million Scots adults, according to the latest Scottish Government data.
This has resulted in a number of changes to Scotland’s lockdown, with more restrictions being eased from today.
Six Scots from six households can now meet outdoors, while restrictions on travel around Scotland have been lifted.
The hospitality sector and non-essential shops are expected to reopen from April 26.
