The majority of Scotland will enter level four restrictions from Boxing Day amid fears of the rapid spread of a new variant of Covid, the First Minister announced. 

Christmas plans have also been scaled back from a five day period to only allowing for households to mix on Christmas day. 

"Please believe when I tell you with every fibre of my being I would not be standing here the Saturday before Christmas announcing this if I did not think that this was necessary," Mrs Sturgeon said. 

"If we do not act now firmly and decisively this new strain is transmitting so quickly that it will very quickly overwhelm us. I want to do everything we can to reduce that possibility."

Level four restrictions will come in place from December 26 and will remain in place for three weeks with the only exception being Scottish islands.

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Nicola Sturgeon held an emergency cabinet meeting earlier today after it was confirmed the new strain could spread rapidly. 

IT was emphases the new variant poses a "serious" situation which "necessitates action".

The new virus could be up to 70% more transmissible than the old variant by increase R number by up to 0.4.

In Scotland, there have been 17 confirmed cases of the variant by the First Minister warned this is likely to be an underestimate. 

A raft of "preventative" actions were announced in a media briefing on Saturday.

A travel ban will be put in place between England and Scotland to prevent the spread of the variant into Scotland. 

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon announces Level 4 lockdown from Boxing Day — Here's what you can and cannot do

The ban will be reinforced by police with further details to be announced later.

Mrs Sturgeon said: "We cannot risk any more of this strain entering Scotland if we can avoid it".

Schools will also face changes with most pupils not returning to in-person learning until January 18. 

Children of key workers and those in vulnerable situations will return to schools as planned on January 11 but most pupils will first return to online teaching.

It was previously planned schools would reopen on January 5.

The First Minister also encouraged people to "lift their guard" again and to "redouble" their efforts to abide by FACTS.

While the new strain is not as prominent in Scotland, Mrs Sturgeon warned we must act preventatively and said: "Four weeks ago London's cases were really low and now they are running out of control and that is what we face."

A further 41 deaths from coronavirus were recorded in the past 24 hours, according to the latest Scottish Government figures. 

Earlier today, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions would be rolled out in part of England which have seen the Covid-19 variant spread rapidly. 

Parts of London, the south-east and east of England will enter harsher restrictions from Saturday morning.

It will see non-essential retail, indoor gyms and leisure facilities shut. 

The Prime Minister said: “We are sacrificing the chance to see our loved ones this Christmas so we have a better chance of protecting their lives so that we can see them at future Christmases”.

Meanwhile, Wales will enter a full lockdown from midnight tonight instead of the previously planned Christmas period.