The First Minister has warned that the rise in hospitalisation figures in England could be a 'sign of things to come' in Scotland as Omicron cases continue to rise.
Speaking today in parliament Nicola Sturgeon updated the nation on the current Covid crisis, announcing new no restrictions over the New Year period but warned of the steep rise in people needing hospital care South of the border.
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There are currently 679 people in hospital with Covid in Scotland, which is 80 more than yesterday and the biggest increase in some time - with numbers are set to rise in the days and weeks ahead.
Nicola Sturgeon said: "The numbers in hospital with Covid in England is now rising quite sharply - which may be a sign of things to come here.
"Indeed today’s reported increase in hospital occupancy here is the biggest in some time. We also know that there is a time lag between rising cases and rising hospital admissions.
"And, of course, in terms of sheer numbers, the benefits of a lower rate of hospitalisation could be quickly cancelled out by the much higher case numbers resulting from significantly increased transmissibility.
So we will monitor all of this data carefully. As well as looking at headline numbers, we will also interrogate the detail.
"For example, the breakdown between those in hospital because of Covid, and those in hospital who have Covid but were admitted for different reasons; and also whether the average length of stay in hospital for those with Omicron is different to other variants.
"All in all, I would expect that within the next couple of weeks, we will have a clearer picture and that this will then help us reach informed judgments about the most proportionate response going forward.
"In the meantime, however, while we better understand the impacts and while more and more of us get the added protection of booster vaccinations - which will help reduce the impacts - we must try to avoid the sheer volume of cases overwhelming us."
The message remains to stay at home where possible, get tested if you have symptoms and to get vaccinated or boosted if you can.
