Experts have warned that the next two weeks will show if a surge in coronavirus cases linked to the Indian variant has a deadly impact.

They told how concerns over an increase in severe and fatal illnesses explain the Scottish Government's cautious approach to lifting virus restrictions.

The Scottish Sun reports that this comes as ministers hope the vaccine roll out will continue to reduce numbers in hospitals - even in places like Glasgow's southside where cases are rising.

At Friday's covid briefing Glaswegians learned they would remain in Level 3 for a further week due to the latest outbreak.

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Professor Stephen Reicher, of St Andrews University, said: "We will find out within a week or two exactly how serious it is.

"If it's very bad, we'll learn in a week or so. If it's bad we'll learn in a couple of weeks.

"I think it's worth pausing for a moment or two rather than have to face the possibility of going back to the really dark days of January and February."

Professor Linda Bauld, of Edinburgh University, said ministers "stalled" Glasgow in Level 3 due to concerns of a possible rise in hospitalisations.

She said: "They are just hanging on a little longer to make sure they can be confident cases are not trasnlating to more people in hospital."

It comes as we reported that Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf said there is "significant community transmission" of coronavirus in Glasgow hotspots.

He explained: "There is a probability the variant has come in from international travel."