The new, more transmissible strain of the virus that is largely responsible for the latest lockdown has spread from the south of England and now accounts for half of the positive tests in Scotland.

The strain, which has led to a surge in cases and hospitals in the south of England being overwhelmed, is estimated to be 50% more transmissible than other variants.

There is no evidence suggesting it is more deadly or affects vaccines and treatments.

Speaking today, Nicola Sturgeon said that the proportion of cases with the new variant was expected to rise further.

It is now ‘circulating widely’ in Scotland and has been detected in nearly half of the positive cases analysed on 2^nd January, according to Public Health Scotland.

Data from the agency shows that 47.5% of cases reported from UK government labs on the 2^nd January had profiles matching the mutated virus.

There were 2,622 new cases yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said, while the percentage of tests coming back positive stands at 14.8%, compared to an average of 4.4% over the course of the pandemic.

Public Health Scotland is expected to provide more detail on the spread of the new variant later this week.

Health authorities in England announced they were investigating the new strain of the virus on the 14^th December.

It came to light after infection rates in Kent were not falling despite England’s nationwide lockdown. Scientists later traced the strain to rapid spreads in London and Essex.

The UK government’s NERVTAG, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, estimate that the new strain is 56% more transmissible than others currently circulating – though this could be as much as 74% higher according to some experts.

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