Nicola Sturgeon has refused to rule out bringing in tighter coronavirus restrictions as Scotland is facing a "tsunami of infection" from the Omicron coronavirus variant.
Speaking at Covid update, Nicola Sturgeon provided more detail on the state on the latest Covid variant in Scotland, in which she indicated that Omicron is more transmissible and she left the door open to re-introduce harsher measures at a later date.
Addressing the nation, Ms Sturgeon provided an update on what's already known about Omicron and to give an estimate of what we are likely to face in the days and weeks ahead.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The fact is we face a renewed and very severe challenge in the face of the new Omicron variant.
"To be blunt, because of the much greater and faster transmissibility of this new variant, we may be facing - indeed we may be starting to experience - a potential tsunami of infections.
"We're not alone in that - everything I am about to share with you about the situation in Scotland is, I believe, broadly reflected in the data for the rest to the UK too."
She confirmed that, as of 5pm yesterday (Thursday), there had been 110 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant.
Ms Sturgeon says that data suggests that the rate of infection, or R number, is close to 3. However, she stressed that estimates are based on the "limited evidence already available here in Scotland, but also other data available from South Africa and elsewhere".
It's believed that the Omicron variant is "significantly more transmissible" than the Delta variant and indicated that a spike in positive cases are expected in the coming days.
She added: The best expert advice also tells us that Omicron is more capable of re-infecting people who have had the virus previously.
"And – based on preliminary laboratory trials – the best evidence suggests it can evade to some extent the immunity conferred by vaccinations."
"Now, I want to triple underline this point. That does not mean vaccines will not significantly help us. Being less effective is not the same - nowhere near the same - as vaccines being ineffective."
Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.
The First Minister added: "I wanted to set this out today not to try to scare people, but to provide the context for the difficult decisions that all governments might have to take in days to come - and to level with you to share the rationale for those decisions.
"We in the Scottish Government will be considering our next steps very carefully - but also mindful of the need to act quickly. We will be discussing matters on a four nations basis too.
"I am very mindful that anything we do - including some of what I say today - has an economic and financial impact for businesses and UK funding arrangements means we have no choice but to look to the Treasury to act."
Ms Sturgeon also revealed that from tomorrow (Saturday), advice will be that all household contacts of any confirmed Covid case should isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status, and even if they get a negative PCR test. Non-household contacts should continue to isolate pending a PCR result. If results are negative they can then leave isolation as long as they are double vaccinated.
She also reiterated calls made by Public Health Scotland yesterday (Thursday) for people to cancel their Christmas parties and nights out.
"This is not easy advice to give or hear," she said.
"There is a significant risk with Omicron - and we are already seeing the reality of it - of Christmas parties or events with lots of people becoming super-spreaders.
"If that happens, lots of people get infected - and if these are work events, as well as the risk to individual health, there is a risk to the ability of the workplace to operate as people have to isolate.
"But the public health advice - which I have no alternative but to agree with, given the evidence of risk that I have shared with you - is that we should all think a bit more carefully about unnecessary contacts, especially in crowded places just now.
"And that it would be sensible to defer work Christmas parties. I know this has a big impact on businesses, which is why we are considering - and pressing the UK Government - on financial support. Once again we face a situation which, frankly, has no easy options.
"We know that any additional protective measures will cause significant social and economic harms – especially after almost two years of this pandemic."
There were 5,018 new positive cases of coronavirus reported yesterday.
A total of 573 people are in hospital with Covid with 40 in intensive care.
There were a further r 19 deaths reported in the previous 24 hours, taking Scotland's death toll to 9,707.
