First minister Nicola Sturgeon named a number of sectors she would offer a support package in a speech to the Scottish parliament.

She said: “I can confirm that with some considerable difficulty, we have managed to identify within our own resources around £100 million that we will use to help businesses, mainly those in hospitality and food supply, and in the culture sector, affected by our advice last week on work Xmas parties and further affected by what I have said today.”

In January, the Scottish government made part of a £7.3 million package available to agents, with grants of up to £25,000, depending on rateable value. However, for the latest round of funding, Sturgeon said businesses which had previously received support through the Strategic Framework Business Fund would be contacted directly. 

She said Scotland now had its first two confirmed Omicron patients in hospital, adding it was spreading “faster than any variant that has gone before”, with 27.5% of all new cases being Omicron.

“We estimate that the doubling time is two to three days – more rapid than anything experienced in the pandemic so far.”

New legal requirements to avoid crowding and bottlenecks in retail outlets will be announced later this week. These will include physical distancing, measures to control the flow of customers and protective screens, she said.

Working from home for those that were able “was now a legal duty”, she confirmed.