THE new mutant strain of coronavirus is fast becoming “dominant” in Scotland, the First Minister has said.
And she’s warned that it could lead to new tougher restrictions.
Nicola Sturgeon said analysis done by Public Health Scotland revealed that 42.8% of positive Scottish tests processed in the Lighthouse Laboratory Network had the genetic marker indicative of the new Covid variant.
READ MORE: Covid-19 in Scotland: Highest ever daily case total with 2045 positive tests
This, she told MSPs, was higher than the 38% suggested by ONS analysis for the week beginning 14 December, and significantly greater than the 6% identified at the end of November.
“This new strain appears to be fast becoming the dominant one in Scotland,” Sturgeon said.
“And that is obviously a cause for real concern – given that it is thought to be significantly more transmissible.
“As I indicated before Christmas, the severity of this challenge means we can’t rule out the need for restrictions that are even tighter than the current level 4.”
While there was not yet “definitive or conclusive evidence” that the new strain readily targets young people, it was, Sturgeon said, “influencing our thinking about schools, and making us more cautious on that front”.
Currently, pupils are due back in the classroom on January 18. The First Minister said that is under review.
“The new strain has already made a normal scheduled return impossible but we continue to assess whether it will be possible to reopen schools as planned on 18 January.
“That is what we all want and, to be clear, that remains our planning assumption. But we will continue to put the safety of pupils, teachers and staff first. And we will ensure as much notice as possible to parents of any changes we consider to be necessary.”
The First Minister also revealed that the first jags of the new Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine would be rolled out in Scotland on January 4.
Sturgeon told MSPs: “The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is also logistically easier to deliver than the Pfizer one. And, crucially, the UK has secured a much higher number of doses of this vaccine.
“It is also now recommended that the second dose of both vaccines can be given up to 12 weeks after the first, rather then three.
“That means we can now prioritise providing a first dose to as many people as possible – rather than providing the required two doses in as short a time as possible. This will allow more people to be vaccinated more quickly.
“We have been preparing for the deployment of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine for some time and I can confirm that it will be administered in Scotland from Monday January 4.
“As of Sunday, more than 92,000 people have already received their first shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
“But today’s news means that more people will get their first dose of a Covid vaccine, sooner than anticipated.“
Those first doses will be rolled out in the settings where vaccines are already being delivered, before moving out into more community settings from January 11.
The first in line for the new jab will be those most at risk from serious illness and death from Covid-19.
The First Minister also urged Scots to mark the new year “responsibly and in line with the restrictions in place”.
She added: “To be clear, that means no gatherings, no house parties, and no first footing. Instead, we should bring in 2021 in our own homes with just our own household.
“This new strain is very serious – I cannot stress that enough. And our prospects for the rest of the year will be better if we get off to a safe start. So I urge everyone to be responsible on Hogmanay. I know it’s hard – particularly for young people. But it is how we best protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
“It helps the NHS too. And they need our help.
“In Scotland, so far, the numbers in hospital and ICU are not at the peak of the first wave. But the NHS is under pressure.
“So everything we do as individuals to stop this virus spreading helps reduce the number of people who will end up in hospital and ICU beds over the next few weeks. And that really matters.”
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