Coronavirus: 17,259 new cases and more than 1100 people in hospital

A further 17,259 new cases of Covid have been recorded in Scotland overnight, according to official figures.

A total of 56,290 new tests were carried out, with 35.3% testing positive – up from the 34.9% reported the previous day.

A total of 1147 people were in hospital on Monday with recently confirmed Covid-19, an increase of 116 overnight. Out of those, 42 patients are in intensive care.

It was also confirmed that a total of 4,384,343 Scots have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, 4,022,821 their second, and 3,006,133 their third dose or booster.

As of December 31, the lab-confirmed death toll of those who tested positive within the previous 28 days stood at 9858. However, figures including suspected Covid-19 deaths recorded by National Records of Scotland suggest the most up-to-date total is now at least 12,372.

Earlier on Tuesday, deputy first minister John Swinney defended the decision to reimpose Covid restrictions in Scotland in response to the surging Omicron variant.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to address the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.

Ahead of her Covid update, she has been urged to cut the length of time required for self-isolation.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has called for the period to be cut to seven days, if two negative tests are returned in the final two days and for household contacts to be allowed to leave isolation if they test negative.

Swinney said the government was still “actively considering” the move, but gave no indication of any specific changes – which have been made by Wales and Northern Ireland in the past week.