LATEST: Rise in hospitalisations as six Omicron cases confirmed in Scotland

There has been a rise in the number of patients being treated in hospitalised with Covid-19.

As of 8am, there were 578 patients being treated in hospital for the virus, which is are increase of 12 on the same time yesterday.

However, the figures is lower than the 685 people who were hospitalised with Covid-19 on the same day last week.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly today said it is “likely” the new Omicron variant is in Ireland.

Six cases of the highly transmissible Covid strain have been identified in Scotland, the Scottish government confirmed this evening .

Four cases are in the Lanarkshire area and two have been identified in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.