Nicola Sturgeon will later today deliver an update on the latest Covid situation in Scotland as the Omicron variant continues to spread across the country.
The First Minister is expected to speak at the Scottish Parliament from around 2pm this afternoon and will speak for 20 minutes.
She will then take questions from members of parliament for around 55 minutes afterwards.
Here are three things that are expected to be covered by Nicola Sturgeon during her address later today.
Covid restrictions
The current restrictions on large gatherings, nightclubs and the hospitality sector will reach their three week point at the end of this week.
Currently, only a small number of Scots are able to attend football matches while music concerts are largely off the cards under the current rules imposed following the Christmas break.
Bars and restaurants have also been ordered to enforce social distancing rules between groups, while table service has become the norm at these venues once again.
Nicola Sturgeon last night insisted that those temporary rules have made a difference in tackling the spread of the Omicron variant.
The First Minister previously signalled that she expected the rules would end by January 17.
Business leaders have claimed that the restrictions have failed to make a ‘meaningful difference’ on infection numbers, which are in the tens of thousands on a daily basis.
A decision on the current rules is expected to be made today.
‘Living with Covid’
Nicola Sturgeon last night hinted that the Scottish Government is planning for a long term shift away from restrictive coronavirus measures.
The First Minister said Scots must now ask themselves “what adaptations to pre-pandemic life” might be needed so the country can live with the virus.
She told STV News: “Sometimes when you hear people talk about learning to live with Covid, what seems to be suggested is that one morning we’ll wake up and not have to worry about it anymore, and not have to do anything to try to contain and control it.
“That’s not what I mean when I say ‘learning to live with it’.
“Instead, we will have to ask ourselves what adaptations to pre-pandemic life - face coverings for example - might be required in the longer term to enable us to live with it with far fewer protective measures.”
Last week, Sturgeon announced that the Scottish Government is working to publish a revised strategic framework, which will set out exactly that.
The roadmap is expected to be published by officials in the ‘next few weeks’ - but we may learn more about it today.
Infections and hospitalisations
Daily Covid infections in Scotland currently remain in their tens of thousands following the festive period.
Last week, Scotland recorded its highest ever daily number of new infections of more than 20,000.
Nicola Sturgeon told STV News last night that are signs that the spread of the Omicron variant in Scotland is started to slow.
But she also warned that the challenge for the NHS remains ‘particularly acute’ as the spike in cases shortly after Christmas starts to turn into hospital admissions.
Yesterday it was revealed that there are currently 1,378 Scots in hospital following a positive Covid test - which is the highest figure reported since February last year.
