Nicola Sturgeon is set to give an update on the state of the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland later today.
The First Minister is expected to address MSPs about the covid statistics which have shot up over the festive period.
The number of positive cases shot up over the Christmas period with 8,252 on Christmas Day, 11,030 on Boxing Day and 10,562 on Monday, December 27.
Fears continue to grow over the rapid spread of the Omicron variant which is now the dominant strain and is believed to have an R (reproduction) rate of around three.
On Monday, Sturgeon urged Scots to stick to the new measures that were put in place on Boxing Day and on Monday in a bid to halt the spread of the deadly virus.
Yesterday, Professor Jason Leitch said cases of the virus are set to peak in "mid to late January", while he also issued an apology to Scots who have been forced to wait days for PCR test results.
He said: "It's just been big because quite a lot of people went for testing before Christmas in order to try and get Christmas celebrations.
"I apologise for that, I'm sorry people had to wait a little bit longer."
Here's all you need to know:
Where can I watch?
The statement by Nicola Sturgeon will be streamed on the Daily Record's main Facebook page which can be viewed here.
If you are out and about or sat at your desk then the Daily Record Politics team will be running a live blog on the statement from Holyrood.
The Scottish Parliament website will have a stream of the speech as will its Facebook.
If you'd prefer to watch it on the TV then the BBC Scotland channel will have a special programme of the statement which airs at 1.55pm.
What time is the speech?
Nicola Sturgeon should deliver her speech to the virtual Scottish Parliament at around 2pm on Wednesday, December 29.
The First Minister is expected to speak for around 20 minutes then take questions from MSP from all sides of the Holyrood chamber for about 55 minutes.
What can I expect?
The SNP leader is expected to announce a rise in the number of covid cases across Scotland.
Cases have rocketed over the Christmas period with 8,252 on Christmas Day, 11,030 on Boxing Day, 10,562 on Monday and 9,360 on Tuesday.
Hospitalisation, ICU and death figures are also expected to be announced by the First Minister during the address.
New restrictions came into effect on large indoor and outdoor gatherings on Boxing Day, while hospitality saw measures such as physical distancing reintroduced.
Sturgeon is not expected to announce any new curbs ahead of Hogmanay, however it is believed she will urge Scots to follow the guidelines in order to prevent even more pressure on the NHS.
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