Scots urged to trust vaccines as country prepares for Christmas lockdown due to new Covid strain

Prisoners across Scotland will be treated to a special first meal of 2021 on New Year's Day. Bosses at Scots prisons have published details of the treats in store on January 1, with the majority of inmates being served a traditional steak pie dinner with all the usual suspects on the side.

Covid-19 and stay at home on Hogmanay. Pals are being warned not to mix with other households indoors and stay away from parties.UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said people "cannot let up" now in the fight against the virus as the health service struggles with rising cases.He said: "With our NHS under pressure we must all take personal responsibility this New Year's Eve and stay at home."I know how much we have all sacrificed this year and we cannot let up.

Police have warned they will use their powers to break up Hogmanay parties. Cops are urging Scots to "do the right thing" this New Year's Eve and stay at home to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that 42.8% of positive tests processed for Scotland are now thought to be the fast-spreading form of coronavirus, first detected earlier this month.

fast-spreading form of coronavirus, first detected earlier this month.In a statement at Holyrood, she said: "This new strain appears to be fast becoming the dominant one circulating in Scotland - and that is obviously a cause for real concern, given that it is thought to be significantly more transmissible."As I indicated before Christmas, the severity of this challenge means we can't rule out the need for restrictions that are even tighter than those in the current level 4."Sturgeon spoke after

MND after giving birth has lost her fight with the disease. Warrior Jennifer Bell, 28, was given just months to live when medics diagnosed her in March 2019.

Jason Leitch warned restrictions would be like in March when the UK ground to a halt for weeks. It follows alarm at strain of Covid-19 which appears to spread more quickly and has already ripped through south-east England.

Covid-19. The action was taken at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday against Thornlea Nursing Home, a residential care home in Loanhead, Midlothian, after 15 residents died as a result of coronavirus.

First Minister said the strain is spreading much faster and the Scottish Government will need to look at whether level 4 restrictions are sufficient.Governments across the UK scaled back plans to loosen the restrictions during Christmas due to the new covid variant.In Scotland, Sturgeon announced level 4, which is effectively lockdown, would be imposed from Boxing Day onwards for three weeks.This includes the near total shutdown of hospitality.Speaking at Holyrood, she referred to data which

new strain, which is causing concern due to its infectiousness, is much more widespread currently in London and the south east of England.However, it is also present in Scotland and Nicola Sturgeon has announced sweeping preventative measures to stop it spreading further.Dr Smith told the daily media briefing he had been in contact with Public Health Scotland, adding: “They were able to tell me that the current figure for Scotland is 18 cases who meet this case definition.

coronavirus being detected. It comes as the whole of the UK faces tighter restrictions over the festive period and in the weeks that follow.