THERE will be no "immediate" changes to restrictions in place in Scotland despite it recording the highest number of Covid cases since the beginning of the pandemic, the First Minister has said. 

A total of 15, 849 cases were reported yesterday, which represents 28.9% of all tests carried out.

Large volumes of tests are being processed by labs but this is a high positivity rate.

Nicola Sturgeon said the much higher test positive in recent days "may be partially explained" by people being more selective about when to go for a test over the Christmas period.

However, she added: "This is by some margin the highest overall daily case number reported in the pandemic to date."

A total of 679 people are in hospital in Covid, 80 more than yesterday while 36 people are in intensive care, one fewer than yesterday. A further three deaths have been reported.

"It clear that the wave of Omicron that has been predicted is now rapidly developing", said the First Minister.

Omicron now accounts for 80% of all cases, and over the past week, the number of reported cases of Covid has increased by 47%.

She said that transmission rates will not yet be "fully evident."

"It is reasonable to assume therefore that we will continue to see steep increases in cases in the days and possibly weeks ahead."

The rise of cases does not appear to translate into high levels of hospital cases and Ms Sturgeon inform public health advice in the coming weeks.

Therefore, no new restrictions are being announced at this moment.

The Scottish Government introduced new measures on Boxing Day which included one-metre physical distancing at large events, with limits of 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors.

New rules on social gatherings then came in on Monday, with meetings limited to three households at indoor and outdoor venues like bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms.

Table service was also made a requirement at places where alcohol is served and nightclubs have been ordered to close their doors again for at least three weeks.

Scotland's new rules mean Hogmanay events will be cancelled, while the Scottish Premiership winter break has been brought forward to avoid staging football matches within the new limits on crowds.