Six cases of the new Omicron variant of Covid have been identified in Scotland.
Some of those affected have no travel history and are thought to have caught the virus in the community.
There are four cases in Lanarkshire and two in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Those affected are isolating but none are in hospital.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for increased compliance with measures to stop the spread of the virus in Scotland.
She urged people to take a lateral flow test before any socialising or mixing with other households, and for home working to be maximised by employers.
Ms Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford are also calling for tougher travel restrictions for people arriving in the UK.
Contact tracing is taking place to establish the origin of the virus and to find anyone else those affected have come into contact with in recent weeks.
All close contacts of suspected Omicron cases will be advised to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
Ms Sturgeon said additional testing would be introduced in areas where cases of the new variant are identified.
She said there was no evidence that community transmission was sustained or widespread at this stage – but that even limited community transmission underlined the importance of complying with the steps to tackle the spread of the virus.
“At this stage we are asking people to significantly step up and increase compliance with all existing precautions,” she said.
“Face coverings; hygiene like washing hands and surfaces; vaccination; and of course testing yourself with LFDs and testing before you mix with people from other households.”
She added: “As of today, I am asking employers to maximise the potential of home working.”
Asked about whether the new variant could affect Christmas, the first minister said: “I’m not asking anybody today to put plans on hold.
“Right now what I’m asking people to do is to up the level of compliance with all of the protections that are still in place. These are protections, not restrictions.”
Omicron was first reported in South Africa, but cases have been detected in countries across the world, including Australia, Germany, Israel and Hong Kong.
Ms Sturgeon said there was no evidence of any link to the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow, or the Scotland rugby team’s match with South Africa at Murrayfield earlier this month.
Ten countries in southern Africa have been added to the travel “red list” in response, while it is expected that all overseas travellers arriving into the UK from 04:00 on Tuesday will need to take a PCR test.
Ms Sturgeon said it was important to “prepare for the worst and act on a precautionary basis” when faced with new developments.
No new Covid protections were announced by the first minister but clearly the Scottish government is keeping that under review.
And Nicola Sturgeon has made clear that she favours stricter rules – UK wide – for international arrivals.
There is already a quarantine requirement for those coming to the UK from a range of countries in southern Africa that have been added to the “red list”.
PCR tests within 48 hours for all international arrivals are also being brought in across the four nations.
Ms Sturgeon and her counterpart in Wales, Mark Drakeford, have now written to the prime minister suggesting an eight-day self-isolation period for all those arriving in the UK from abroad.
This is being suggested as an additional precaution as scientists try to work out how dangerous, or otherwise, the Omicron variant is.
The first ministers are also seeking assurances that the Treasury would support any new Covid measures, should they be required.
But Nicola Sturgeon stressed that she hopes a return to restrictions will not be necessary.
“But that does not mean we are not hoping for something considerably short of the worst,” she added.
“We are still hoping for the best and that our developing understanding of this variant will reduce rather than increase our concern.
“I very much hope that additional protections can be avoided and while we will act on a precautionary basis we will seek to act at all times in a proportionate manner.”
Ms Sturgeon and Mr Drakeford have called for urgent talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and for a Cobra committee meeting to take place with representatives of all four UK nations “as soon as possible”.
They have proposed stricter travel restrictions under which arrivals to the UK would have to self-isolate for eight days, with tests on day two and day eight.
The UK government has tightened the rules on the wearing of face coverings in England, bringing them closer into line with those in Scotland – where there is also some use of vaccine passports for large events, and more stringent advice on home working.
The new travel restrictions were announced on Saturday as the World Health Organization designated Omicron a “variant of concern.”
Early evidence suggests the new Omicron variant has a higher reinfection risk.
The first UK cases – picked up from analysis of recent positive Covid tests from all around the country – were confirmed on Saturday in Essex and Nottingham.
The third case identified on Sunday came from a visitor who spent time in the Westminster area of London, although the person is no longer in the UK, the Health Security Agency said.
An urgent meeting of health ministers from the G7 group of nations will be held later to discuss the developments on Omicron.
Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told BBC Breakfast it was “almost inevitable” that there would be many more cases.
“The key question is whether this virus has a transmission advantage over the Delta, which is the prevalent virus at the moment.
“Vaccines can do heavy lifting, but they can’t do all the lifting and actually social distancing measures, that’s wearing face masks, distancing, ventilation… and measures like that are important as well.”
He said they would have to “wait and see” whether Omicron takes a hold in the UK and how big a problem it was.
“It’s obviously a worrying development,” he added, “but I don’t think there’s any need for anyone to panic. What they do need to do though is get vaccinated.”
He said it would be “sensible” to cut time between doses and extend boosters to the under-40s. (BBC)
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