One Scots Omicron patient required intensive care since strain emerged

One patient in Scotland with a confirmed case of the Omicron variant has required intensive care since the strain emerged in the country.

Official statistics also indicate that less than 100 people have been hospitalised due to Omicron in Scotland.

The details come in the midst of fresh restrictions in the country, with nightclubs closed and large events cancelled.

New health measures were outlined by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at Holyrood last month.

She explained that the measures – which include the reintroduction of physical distancing and table service in venues which serve alcohol – will remain in place until “at least” until the end of the first week in January.

The SNP leader told MSPs that at that point, the measures will then be reviewed, whilst she urged people to minimise their amount of social contact with other households.

In England, UK ministers have so far indicated that further Covid restrictions are unlikely to be introduced.

On Wednesday, Sturgeon is to provide a Covid update to the Scottish Parliament, which will sit virtually.

A Scottish Government spokesperson welcomed the evidence on Omicron hospitalisations, although reiterated that the virus remains a “serious threat”.

“It is encouraging that emerging evidence shows that the proportion of people contracting omicron who are requiring hospital care might be lower,” they said.

“However it is still important to take care that we do not allow the much higher transmissibility of omicron to outweigh the benefits of its potential lower severity. Both direct and incidental Covid hospital admissions put pressure on acute services.

“An individual infection could be relatively mild for the vast majority of people, but the potential for all these infections to come at once and put serious strain on the NHS remains.”

They continued: “The omicron variant remains a significant threat. It means that at the moment, we need above all to keep each other safe.

“We all need to stay at home, far more than we would want to at this time of year, test regularly, wear face coverings when required and above all – get fully vaccinated.

“Data shows that individuals were 12.5 times more likely to be in hospital with Covid-19 if they were unvaccinated compared to individuals that had received a booster or 3rd dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.”