Nicola Sturgeon has informed Scots that Omicron has become the dominant strain of covid north of the Border.
The First Minister said the “tsunami” of cases she had previously warned of is now coming to pass.
She estimated 51.4% of infections are now of the Omicron variety.
She told a media briefing: “Omicron has now replaced Delta as the dominant Covid strain circulating in Scotland."
However, she added: "We should not be fatalistic about this. We are not powerless in the face of it."
On claims Omicron may not be as severe as other variants, she said: "Even if it did turn out to be generally a little less severe for most people - and let me stress we still don’t know that to be true - for some people it will still cause serious illness and hospitalisation. Tragically, more people will die.
"And even if the number of people falling seriously ill is a smaller percentage of cases than with Delta, the basic fact of arithmetic is inescapable - a smaller percentage of a much bigger number of infections will result in a massive number of cases needing hospital care.
"Total hospital admissions in Scotland in the week up to 13th December were slightly higher than in the week previous - so we are already starting to see an increase as a result of the relatively moderate rise in cases seen in previous weeks.
"In London, where the number of Omicron cases is currently the highest in the UK, hospital admissions are now rising quite sharply. If we don’t act now, what we have feared all along but so far avoided - the overwhelming of the NHS - could happen."
She revealed the new figures a day after effectively admitting even more restrictions may be necessary.
Fresh curbs for business and advice on limiting social contacts are now in force, but the First Minister believes extra restrictions on pubs, football matches, concerts and nightclubs may be required.
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2021-12-17 12:28:49Z
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