Nicola Sturgeon will make a covid statement at Holyrood today after it was claimed Scotland was now "through the worst of Omicron".
The coronavirus variant was discovered in November last year and saw the reintroduction of tougher restrictions over the Christmas and New Year period.
But health secretary Humza Yousaf said yesterday : "I think we’re through the worst of it.
"I definitely think the last few weeks of December and the first few weeks of January – that five to six-week period – was probably the worst… and most intense period the health service has ever come under in its 73-year existence.
"That’s not coming from me, that’s coming from people… who have been working there for decades and decades."
Despite the downturn in cases of the new variant, Yousaf warned there was still substantial pressure being exerted on the NHS.
The First Minister is expected to face questions from MSPs today on the subject after she makes her weekly update on the government response to the pandemic.
The Scottish Government announced yesterday £82.6 million has been allocated to health boards to expand teams within GP practices and modernise systems.
Yousaf said the measures would ensure patients can see the right healthcare expert at the right time while giving GPs more time with patients most in need of their skills and allowing doctors to focus on complex diagnosis, such as suspected cancer cases.
A further £2m has also been allocated to modernise telephone systems within practices which will improve call waiting times for patients.
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