Coronavirus: Cases in Scotland surge by 2464 overnight

Scotland has recorded a further 2464 cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours.

On Saturday, the Scottish Government revealed 17,328 new tests reported results with 15.2% of them positive.

Since the start of the outbreak, a total of 127,453 people have tested positive for the deadly virus.

The daily figures for deaths, hospital admissions and intensive care cases will not be reported until January 5.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “This is further evidence that the new variant is accelerating transmission, and is the context for tomorrow’s @scotgov Cabinet decisions and recall of @ScotParl.”

The Cabinet is expected to be recalled on Monday morning to discuss any additional measures that may be required to stop the spread of coronavirus.

In a series of tweets, Sturgeon said: “The rapid increase in Covid cases, driven by the new variant, is of very serious concern.

“The steep increases and severe NHS pressure being experienced in other parts of the UK is a sign of what may lie ahead. So we must take all steps to slow spread while vaccination progresses.

“We, like other countries, are in a race between this faster spreading strain of Covid and the vaccination programme.

“As we work to vaccinate as quickly as possible, we must also do more to slow down the virus – to save lives and help the NHS care for all those who need it.

“Following a meeting of the Scottish government resilience committee yesterday to assess latest situation, the Cabinet will meet tomorrow am to consider further action to limit spread and I’ve asked for Scottish Parliament to be recalled tomorrow afternoon so that I can set out our decisions in a statement.

“All decisions just now are tough, with tough impacts. Vaccines give us way out, but this new strain makes the period between now and then the most dangerous since start of pandemic.

“So the responsibility of government must be to act quickly and decisively in the national interest.”