The First Minister is to give a Covid briefing today after concerns were raised by Public Health Scotland to avoid outbreaks of covid-19.

FM Nicola Sturgeon, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland Gregor Smith and Senior Clinical Advisor Jason Leitch are to hold a Covid briefing at 12.15 today.

With Omicron cases rising in Scotland, Dr Nick Phin, Director of Public Health Science and Medical Director of PHS, says a number of outbreaks of the new variant have been linked to parties. 

He said: "To help minimise the further spread of Covid-19, and Omicron in particular, I would strongly urge people to defer their Christmas parties to another time.