Scotland's Chief Medical Officer has said that a new strain of Omicron is responsible for the country's rapidly rising covid rates.
Professor Sir Gregor Smith said the new BA.2 variant was thought to have a growth rate 80 per cent higher than the original BA1.
Speaking on Good Morning Scotland yesterday, he said: "Scotland is probably the country who has experienced the greatest rise in BA.2 next.
READ MORE: First Minister to deliver Covid update amid soaring case rates LIVE
"Our proportion is currently about 85 per cent just now. And you can see those countries that have BA.2 just now are experiencing the quickest, sharpest rises in case rates."
Prof Smith expanded on this on Twitter, adding that "preparation is key" to limiting the sharp rise in cases.
Responding to New York City-based physician Dr Jay Pharma, he said: "You’re right not to be complacent Jay - preparation key as when it comes it’ll increase sharply - doubling time here c8.5days. Growth rate around 80 per cent greater than BA1, with high household attack rate so considerations there for multi-generational homes in NYC. Take care."
He added that booster doses provide significant protection to the variant, urging people not to delay if they had not yet received their jab and were eligible.
He tweeted: "And if I had any message from Scottish experience for people in NYC as they do prepare, it’s don’t delay opportunity for booster dose if you’re eligible, we’re still seeing additional highly protective effect with 3rd doses given pre-Christmas."
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has seen a sharp rise in recent days, with the seven-day rate of infection also soaring.
There were 1,805 people in hospital on Sunday with recently confirmed covid and 27 people in intensive care – though Public Health Scotland has been experiencing technical issues and is unable to provide full data.
In the first week of March, an estimated one in every 18 Scots had Covid-19, data from the Office for National Statistics showed.
Nicola Sturgeon will deliver a covid update this afternoon where she will confirm the latest statistics.
Follow Nicola Sturgeon’s covid statement as it happens today here
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