CORONAVIRUS restrictions may have to be imposed in the aftermath of the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow, a scientific adviser to Nicola Sturgeon has warned.

Professor Devi Sridhar said she believes that the 13-day UN summit will lead to an increase in Covid-19 cases and put further pressure on the health service, triggering the “need for further restrictions.”

Prof Sridhar, who sits on the Scottish government’s Covid-19 advisory group, tweeted the warning in response to a question about whether Cop26 will make the Covid-19 situation in Scotland worse and lead to new curbs on freedoms.

The professor of global public health at Edinburgh University wrote: “I could be wrong  — and hope I am — but yes.

“A mass event, with a major movement of people in and out, with an infectious virus in circulation will cause an increase in cases.

“This will put stress on limited health services. Which triggers need for further restrictions.”

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie called for the roll out of booster jabs to be sped up and for assurances to be made about NHS surge capacity.