Nicola Sturgeon is being urged to slash Scotland's 10 day self-isolation rule as staff absences soar and businesses grind to a halt.
The First Minister will today update MSPs on the latest coronavirus data at a virtual meeting of the Scottish Parliament where she is expected to again call on the public to limit their social interactions.
But the SNP leader is also likely to face questions on why Scotland is persisting with making people self-isolate for 10 days if they have covid - when it has been reduced to seven days in England.
The United States has halved the self-isolation requirement for citizens who catch Covid - and their close contacts - from 10 days to just five.
Businesses and public services across Scotland have been hit by increasing staff shortages as soaring numbers are forced into quarantine by the more transmissible Omicron variant.
John Swinney today admitted ministers were considering reducing the self-isolation period but insisted such a judgment would be made on public health considerations rather than economic pressures.
The Deputy First Minister told BBC Radio Scotland any change in the rules would first be announced in parliament.
Asked if now was the time to reduce the self-isolation period, Swinney said: "We are giving active consideration to that question.
"We need to look carefully at the clinical evidence that is emerging. The key question is whether or not the period required for self-isolation is necessary to ensure we interrupt the circulation of the virus."
Pressed on whether Scotland should follow England and reduce self-isolation to seven days, Swinney added: "I am aware of other evidence emerging in the United States.
"One of the important points was whether the judgement was being made on the question of economic efficiency or on clinical judgements to interrupt the spread of the virus.
"Ultimately we've got to take a judgement on the question of the clinical arguments to make a judgement on what is the right stance to take.
"We serve nobodies interests well if enable people to return to the labour market and to return to circulation in society if they are still shedding the virus."
US health officials yesterday halved the recommended isolation time for those with asymptomatic Covid-19 amid a surge in cases.
The Center for Disease Control said most transmissions happen in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.
Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford University, told the BBC the worst of the pandemic was over and he would support cutting the UK isolation period to five days as long as people tested negative on lateral flow tests.
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