The end of the coronavirus crisis in the UK appears to be in sight, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) chief.
Scotland’s case numbers have taken a sharp decline over the past week, following a spike in infection shortly after the festive period.
On January 3, Scotland recorded its highest ever daily rise in Covid infections after more than 20,000 people were found to have come down with the virus.
The highly-transmissible Omicron variant is said to have been the leading factor behind the sharp rise in cases.
But recent data shows that Covid is once again on retreat in Scotland, with the seven-day average daily case numbers falling below 10,000 for the first time this year.
A similar drop in cases has also been felt across the rest of the UK in recent days.
David Nabarro, who is a WHO special envoy on Covid-19, said that there appears to be “light at the end of the tunnel” for the UK in its fight against the virus.
But he warned that new variants of the virus could throw the country back off course once again.
Speaking to Sky News this morning: “Looking at it from a UK point of view, there does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel…I think that it’s going to be bumpy before we get to the end.
“So, even though it’s possible to start imagining that the end of the pandemic is not far away, just - everybody be ready for the possibility that there will be more variations and mutations coming along, or that there will be further challenges, other surges of even Omicron coming.”
Covid restrictions on large outdoor gatherings were lifted in Scotland from today - giving the green light to the resumption of capacity crowds at the likes of football matches.
Nicola Sturgeon will deliver another update on the state of the pandemic in Scotland tomorrow.
The First Minister said that she is “cautiously optimistic” ahead of her scheduled statement in parliament.
When asked about any possible changes to the remaining Covid measures, Sturgeon said: “I think everybody wants to see Covid end so it follows that everybody – me included – wants to see all restrictions end.
“I’m not going to pre-empt my statement tomorrow.
“I think what Mark Drakeford set out last week is broadly in line with what I set out earlier last week.
“They are lifting restrictions over a two-week period.
“Today the restriction on outdoor large-scale events is lifted (in Scotland).
“I hope we’ll be able to follow the trajectory I set out last week when I make my statement tomorrow, but the cabinet needs to look at all of the up-to-date data tomorrow and come to decisions.
“Looking at that data right now, we’ve got reasons to continue to be cautiously optimistic that we’re turning the corner on this Omicron wave.
“That’s because people have responded magnificently, they’ve behaved in a way that’s helped stem to some extent the transmission of Omicron and we took sensible, balanced, proportionate steps.
“So we’re in a better position than I feared we would be before Christmas. But there’s still a need for caution because the health service, for example, continues to be under very, very acute pressure.”
