Omicron

Greggs said hot food such as chicken goujons and wedges are proving popular, alongside traditional bakery products such as donuts (above).

Greggs holding firm on pricing as sales jump nearly a fifth in past year

Symptoms of Arcturus as new Covid strain claims five lives

New highly-infectious covid strain Arcturus kills five Brits

New Covid variant Arcturus has been found in the UK

Arcturus: New Covid variant found in UK

Data reveals the top ten words and names Brits struggle to pronounce the most including Niamh, Omicron & Açaí

Data reveals the top ten words and names Brits struggle to pronounce

Apex in 1996 opened its first property, in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, and this remains part of its portfolio. Picture: Scott Louden.

Edinburgh-headquartered Apex Hotels checks in return to profitability

The SQA said it was creating a "narrative" around the Scottish exam results in 2022.

Briefing 'confirms 2022 exam pass rate suppressed' by SQA, claims expert

The new variant is set to be more transmissible than Omicron (Adobe)

New Covid variant nicknamed ‘The Kraken’ is ‘more transmissible’

Greggs has more than 2,300 shops across the UK after opening far more than it closed over the past year. Picture: Greggs plc

Cost of living winner: Greggs sees sales jump 23% after adding scores of stores

Scots can look forward to reuniting with family and friends this festive season, but for many, it will not be a 'normal' Christmas. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

A ‘normal’ Christmas will still elude many Scots this year

The Filmouse will be one of the main film festival venues in August. Picture: Chris Scott

Collapse of Edinburgh International Film Festival and Filmhouse is a grim omen

Covid vaccines has saved millions of lives worldwide (Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Covid booster vaccines are still a matter of life and death – Dr Gwenetta Curry

Kevin Bridges is in the midst of a 16-show run at the OVO Hydro arena in Glasgow.

A new era beckons for Scottish culture after a bumper summer of events

Medical staff preparing shots of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: PA

'Next generation' dual Covid booster jab targeting two strains approved for use

UK approve COVID vaccine that targets original strain and Omicron

File photo dated 21/12/2021 of a nurse puts on PPE in a ward for Covid patients

Covid triples across Europe and hospital admissions double, says WHO

Face masks should still be worn in crowded places to reduce the spread of Covid, says Dr Gwenetta Curry (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA)

Covid remains a serious threat so masks should still be used in crowded places

Those who have not yet had their spring Covid booster are being urged to come forward.

Yousaf urges those eligible to come forward for spring booster

File photo of a coronavirus advice sign outside Argyle Street station in Glasgow.

Scotland experiencing another Covid wave - expert

Hearts are heading to Spain for a pre-season camp. Picture: SNS

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson promises 'tough week' as pre-season trip announced

An estimated two million people in the UK are suffering from Long Covid. Picture: NationalWorld

Record two million people in UK suffering from Long Covid

Covid Scotland: Covid-19 infections continue to fall in much of UK but rise in Scotland

Covid-19 infections have risen slightly in Scotland

Aberdeen-headquartered FirstGroup operates one of the biggest bus fleets in the UK. Picture: John Devlin

Scots bus giant FirstGroup ponders takeover approach from US investor

Royal Mail to hike stamp prices again despite cost of living crisis

Covid levels are continuing to drop.

Covid Scotland: Coronavirus levels drop to pre-Christmas levels

British Airways was hit badly by the pandemic, along with the rest of the global airline industry, but has recently seen some signs of a recovery. Picture: John Devlin

British Airways parent IAG eyes clearer skies after losses stack up

Travelodge chairman Martin Robinson.

Upbeat Travelodge to roll out 'budget-luxe' design to 60 sites this year

WH Smith's travel business, which runs outlets in airports and railway stations, was hit badly by lockdowns and travel restrictions but has seen a strong rebound in recent weeks.

WH Smith eyes scores more travel site openings amid pandemic recovery

Secondary school students take the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exams (HKDSE) in Creative Secondary School in Hong Kong. Secondary schools will resume face-to-face classes on 3 May.

Hong Kong to allow non-residents to enter for first time in two years

The ONS said retail sales fell back notably in March, with rises in the cost of living hitting consumers’ spending. Picture: David Mirzoeff/PA Wire

UK retail sales take hit as cost of living crisis intensifies

Scotmid, whose trading roots stretch back more than 160 years, runs scores of local convenience stores such as this one in Laurencekirk.

Scotmid warns of 'significant' inflationary challenges after resilient results

A community volunteer (R) wearing personal protective equipment registers residents before testing for the Covid-19 coronavirus in a compound during a Covid-19 lockdown in Pudong district in Shanghai on April 17, 2022.

Shanghai’s first Covid deaths are both a warning and a justification

The impact of rising costs is expected to be reflected in the latest retail sales figures, for March. Picture: AFP via Getty Images.

Forecast: Rising costs expected to hamper retail sales figures

Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Scots waited up to 21 hours for ambulance during first Omicron wave

A woman wears a face covering in England after the law was relaxed. Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The easing of face mask rules is a major step in Scotland's pandemic

The ONS revised the record-breaking GDP drop at the height of the pandemic in 2020 to 9.3 per cent, against the 9.4 per cent first estimate.

UK economy rebound stronger than thought but trouble lies ahead

Photo by HOLLIE ADAMS/AFP via Getty Images

Businesses continue to feel impact of Covid staff absences

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will make an announcement on the wearing of face masks next week

Covid Scotland: Daily cases could reach 60,000 in April

When are you most contagious with Covid? Here's when Covid is at its most contagious and how long it lasts (Image credit: Getty Images/Pexels via Canva Pro)

When are you most contagious with Covid? How long coronavirus lasts

Picture: Lisa Ferguson.

Record number of patients in hospital with Covid as restrictions eased

What does a positive lateral flow test result look like? Lateral flow test results, explained (Image credit: jonkempnerphotos via Canva Pro)

What does a positive lateral flow test result look like?

The Bank of England has raised interest rates again as it warned the Ukraine conflict could see under-pressure households hit with double-digit inflation later this year.

Bank raises rates to 0.75% amid warning inflation

Unemployment in Scotland dropped slightly in the last quarter, according to latest figures.

Slight drop in Scotland’s unemployment rate

The world's second-largest cinema chain was hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images.

Forecast: Cineworld recovery set to accelerate amid return of blockbusters

The ONS says some industries that were hit particularly hard in December performed better in January - including restaurants. Picture: Tolga Akmen via Getty Images.

GDP: UK economy bounces back from Omicron impact, but outlook deemed 'bleak'

Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.

More people in hospital with Covid than at peak of Omicron wave

Nurse Sarah MacLeod, from the Vaccination Team, gives Margaret Swift, aged 69, from Balgreen, Edinburgh, her vaccine at the coronavirus mass vaccine centre at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on February 1, 2021 in Edinburgh. Photo by Jane Barlow - Pool/Getty Images

Covid Scotland: Spring booster marks new era in vaccine programme

Unvaccinated women can now receive IVF and other fertility treatments.

Covid Scotland: Unvaccinated women to be allowed IVF treatment

Edinburgh City Council will borrow £1bn.

Edinburgh City Council is planning to borrow £1bn over the next four years

Police Scotland: Officers numbers hit a 13-year low

Current vaccines provide strong protection against severe Covid disease but are not particularly good at preventing infection (Picture: Thibault Savary/AFP via Getty Images)

Scientists are hunting 'holy grail' Covid vaccine – Professor Eleanor Riley

Mark Sterritt, UK Network Director, Scotland at the British Business Bank

Four key trends for business in 2022 - Mark Sterritt

Despite the robust sales figures for Scotland and across the UK, experts have pointed to headwinds battering stores right now, with high inflation, rising public policy costs and stretched household finances all making trading difficult. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

UK retail sales bounce back in January after Omicron hit but outlook cloudy

Jeavon Lolay of Lloyds: 'An increase in the number of sectors reporting output growth in January is good news to start the year.'

Recovery on track as more UK business sectors see output grow

Scottish Labour have criticised ambulance turnaround times at Scottish hospitals

Maximum ambulance turnaround times hit nearly 11 hours, figures show

Covid scam messages circulating, NHS health boards report (Photo: Shutterstock).

Covid scam messages circulating in Scotland

A health board will decide next week whether to reintroduce services after telling its GPs to only focus on the most serious cases as it creaked under the Omicron wave.

Health board to review ‘managed suspension’ of GP services

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