Six Omicron cases are linked to a Steps concert in Glasgow as the total identified in Scotland hits 29 and Nicola Sturgeon warns there is now 'community transmission' of the mutant strain which could see infections rise 'significantly'
- Six Omicron cases in Scotland have been linked to a Steps concert in Glasgow
- The total number of Omicron coronavirus cases in Scotland has now hit 29
- Nicola Sturgeon said that the 'cases are no longer all linked to a single event'
- She said that 'this confirms our view that there is now community transmission'
- First Minister said now 'we would expect to see cases rise - perhaps significantly'
Six Omicron coronavirus cases in Scotland have been linked to a Steps concert in Glasgow as Nicola Sturgeon warned 'there is now community transmission of this variant'.
A total of 16 new cases of the Covid variant have been recorded in Scotland in the past 24 hours, taking the overall number to 29.
Ms Sturgeon said the cases are 'no longer all linked to a single event, but to several different sources' including the concert at the Hydro venue in Glasgow on November 22.
The Scottish First Minister said that 'given the nature of transmission we would expect to see cases rise - perhaps significantly - in the days ahead'.
Six Omicron coronavirus cases in Scotland have been linked to a Steps concert in Glasgow as Nicola Sturgeon warned 'there is now community transmission of this variant'
Ms Sturgeon said the cases are 'no longer all linked to a single event, but to several different sources' including the concert at the Hydro venue in Glasgow on November 22
Steps are pictured performing at The O2 Arena in London on November 27 this year
Cases of the new variant have been recorded in Highland, Grampian and Forth Valley health boards for the first time, with three, one and five respectively.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is now home to 11 cases, while NHS Lanarkshire has nine.
The Omicron outbreak in Scotland started in the latter two areas, with nine cases linked to a single private event on November 20.
Ms Sturgeon said in a statement issued by the Scottish Government this afternoon: 'The number of Omicron cases now being reported in Scotland is rising, and cases are no longer all linked to a single event, but to several different sources including a Steps concert at the Hydro on 22 November.
'This confirms our view that there is now community transmission of this variant within Scotland.
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'Given the nature of transmission we would expect to see cases rise - perhaps significantly - in the days ahead.
'However, health protection teams are continuing work through contact tracing, isolation and testing to slow the spread as far as possible while we learn more about the new variant's impact. Ministers are also keeping the situation under daily review.'
While six Omicron cases have been linked to the concert on November 22, no cases have been identified to date from a concert held at the venue on November 23.
The Scottish Government has said the risk to those who attended the concert is low and people who may have come into contact with Omicron are being contacted.
No one who attended the concert needs to isolate unless they are asked to do so by Test & Protect or if they develop symptoms.
The Omicron developments came as Scotland recorded a further 16 coronavirus-linked deaths and 2,432 new cases of the disease overall.
It means the death toll under this daily measure, of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days, is 9,634.
There were 652 people in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19 as of Wednesday night, down 28 in 24 hours and, of these, 46 people were in intensive care, down two.
So far, 4,350,133 people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination in Scotland, 3,954,992 have had a second, and 1,790,728 have been given a third dose or booster.
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