A Steps concert in Glasgow is among the sources of new cases of the Omicron COVID variant in Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Six cases are understood to be linked to the concert at the Hydro arena on 22 November.
Risk to those who attended is said to be low, and those who may have come into contact with the new variant at the event are being contacted.
No one from the concert needs to isolate – unless asked to by Test and Protect or if they develop symptoms.
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Scotland has recorded a total of 29 Omicron cases – with 16 being reported in the last 24 hours.
Previously, nine of the cases were linked to a single private event, but the first minister said there are now several sources of infections of the new variant.
“The number of Omicron cases now being reported in Scotland is rising, and cases are no longer all linked to a single event, but to several different sources,” Ms Sturgeon said, confirming one of them as the Steps concert.
“This confirms our view that there is now community transmission of this variant within Scotland. Given the nature of transmission, we would expect to see cases rise, perhaps significantly, in the days ahead.
“However, health protection teams are continuing work through contact tracing, isolation and testing to slow the spread as far as possible while we learn more about the new variant’s impact. Ministers are also keeping the situation under daily review.”
Cases of the new variant have been recorded in Highland, Grampian and Forth Valley health boards for the first time, at three, one and five respectively.
The health boards where the outbreak was first recorded, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire, have 11 and nine cases respectively.
Latest daily figures show Scotland has recorded 16 coronavirus-linked deaths and 2,432 new cases in the past 24 hours.
In total, 9,634 people have died in Scotland within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19.
The daily test positivity rate was 7.6%, according to data published by the Scottish Government on Friday, up from 7.4% the previous day.
