Six cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant have been identified in Scotland, the Scottish Government has announced.
The Scottish Government said four of the Covid-19 Omicron variant cases identified in Scotland are in the Lanarkshire area, with two in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
Public Health Scotland and local health protection teams are working together and contact tracing is being undertaken to establish the origin of the virus and any individuals they have come into contact with.
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Scotland's Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "This will be a worrying time for the six people now identified as having the new variant. All will receive expert help and support and Public Health Scotland will undertake enhanced contact tracing in all cases.
"This will help establish the origin of the virus and any further individuals they have come into contact with in recent weeks.
"There is still much to learn about the Omicron variant. Questions remain about its severity, transmissibility and response to treatments or vaccines and scientists are working at pace to provide additional information.
"Until more is known we must be cautious and do everything we can to minimise the risk of spreading infection."
Masks are being recommended in England's schools before their compulsory return to shops and public transport as a third case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus was detected in England.
A further escalation of measures to combat the spread of the concerning new strain of coronavirus was announced when staff and pupils in Year 7 and above were "strongly advised" to cover their faces in communal areas outside classrooms from Monday.
Face coverings will be mandatory on public transport and in shops and other settings including banks, post offices and hairdressers from Tuesday morning, when isolation rules will return for international arrivals until they receive a negative PCR test for Covid-19.
Close contacts of positive Omicron cases were being ordered to isolate for 10 days even if they have been vaccinated, amid concerns the variant first detected in South Africa could spread rapidly and partially evade existing jabs.
A third case of the "variant of concern" was detected by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Sunday, this time of a person who visited Westminster in London before leaving the country. The first two were identified in Nottingham and Essex.
Despite the reintroduction of rules, Health Secretary Sajid Javid told families they should plan for a great Christmas "as normal" and insisted it was "nowhere near" time to reintroduce social distancing rules and work-from-home guidance.
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