Scots have been asked to put off their Christmas parties following widespread covid outbreaks linked to the new Omicron variant.
The Scottish Government has said a number of outbreaks have been linked to Christmas parties, leading Public Health Scotland to urge people to defer the events.
Dr Nick Phin, Director of Public Health Science and Medical Director, PHS explains: “There is much that we still need to learn about Omicron, but early evidence suggests that this new Covid variant is much more transmissible. The impact of this transmissibility has been seen in recent weeks, with a number of Omicron outbreaks linked to parties.
“We still need to learn more about the severity of disease caused by Omicron and the effectiveness of vaccines, but there are important things that we can do to help protect ourselves and our families now. To help minimise the further spread of Covid-19, and Omicron in particular, I would strongly urge people to defer their Christmas parties to another time.
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“I appreciate that everyone is keen to celebrate this festive season, particularly after the pressures of the last twenty months, but by postponing some plans we can all do our bit to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
Other measures people are being asked to follow are:
- Get your vaccine and booster when your turn comes
- Test at least twice weekly using LFDs and take a test each time you are socialising with people outwith your household
- Reduce the number of people you catch up with, try to meet outdoors or if indoors ensure ventilation is good
- Keep up the other public health measures: wash your hands, clean surfaces, maintain distances and of course wear a face covering in public spaces
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to give a covid update tomorrow amid rising concerns linked to the new variant.
