Nicola Sturgeon is urging Scots to get their coronavirus vaccine in her message ahead of Christmas Day. The First Minister said she was "so sorry" the rapid spread of the Omicron variant meant people would not be able to enjoy a "fairly normal Christmas ".
In her annual message to the nation the SNP leader thanked NHS and care home staff who will be working over the festive period.Sturgeon's message came as new data revealed that people with Omicron are 70 per cent less likely to end up in hospital.
Publishing preliminary findings of its research into the new variant, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said Omicron appears to result in less severe disease for those infected with it.