“PREVENTATIVE action” may be needed to stop a new variant strain of Covid-19 taking hold in the UK, the First Minister has warned.

This afternoon England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty put out a statement saying the new variant, which is prevalent in the south and east of England, “can spread more quickly”.

The Prime Minister is holding a press conference later today following the news.

Addressing Twitter this afternoon Nicola Sturgeon said she had taken part in a four-nations call and will shortly chair a Scottish Government Cabinet meeting on the new variant.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson to hold press conference today amid fear over new Covid strain

Although Scotland’s coronavirus infection level is lower than in other parts of the UK she issued a strong warning.

“Cases currently at lower level in Scotland than rUK - but preventative action may be necessary to stop faster spreading strain taking hold,” she warned.

The news raises questions over the Christmas period, over which the four nations have agreed an easing of restrictions.

In recent days, however, the Scottish Government has issued new guidance on the bubbles – encouraging people to limit them to two households, avoid overnight stays and indoor visits and avoid travel to and from high prevalence areas, including Tier 3 areas in England.

It has already been suggested that Scotland could be put back into lockdown after Christmas – as has been announced in Northern Ireland and Wales.

READ MORE: Fears of post-Christmas lockdown for Scotland amid 'rising tide of Covid'

Deputy first minister John Swinney yesterday told the BBC: “Unfortunately, in Scotland today, we are in a rising tide of coronavirus cases.

“The less we do to have social interaction in the period going forward, the better, in terms of stemming the rise in coronavirus cases within our community.”

Asked if the Scottish Government is considering similar measures to Wales, he said it could not be ruled out.

“We’ll have to look at what the forward prospects look like, we’ll have to take decisions that will be sustainable for a period into January and February to protect the public interest and protect the National Health Service,” he said.