IT is “not appropriate” for people to meet for coffee during Scotland's coronavirus lockdown, the national clinical director has said.

Professor Jason Leitch urged Scots not to bend the rules as Scottish ministers meet this morning to decide on tightening regulations.

The Scottish Government could consider further restrictions on “non-essential” takeaway services and construction, Leitch told BBC Breakfast.

The news comes amid ongoing confusion across the UK regarding what can be done in terms of household mixing under the new lockdown regulations.

Two women in Derbyshire were fined after going for a walk with a takeaway coffee – with one officer describing it as a “picnic”.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon update: What to expect as First Minister sets out lockdown changes

Leitch told viewers: “If you’re arranging to meet someone for coffee, that’s not appropriate for where we are in the pandemic.

“That’s not where we are just now. I’m really, really sorry but you should only leave the house for essential reasons.”

The national clinical director also said most people should not be sitting on park benches, but made an exception for older people, using his parents as an example.

The National:

“If my parents go out for a walk, they’re 79 and 80, it’s perfectly legitimate for them to have a little rest on the way, because I think it’s really important that they go out,” he said.

“We’re not suggesting the police should fine everybody on park benches, but let’s use our common sense.”

When asked about the park bench example and how it should be policed, Leitch said: “It should hopefully not be policed.”

READ MORE: Covid in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon's blistering rebuke of lockdown protesters

He went on to say he believed most people “understand we’re in a pandemic”, but added that the police will enforce the law if they have to.

Leitch also called for a shift in the thinking of some people who seek to bend pandemic rules, saying: “I would much rather people asked, ‘How do I stay within these rules? What is it I can do that would put me and everybody else at the least risk?'”

He added: “Now, that’s not forever. It sounds horrible, doesn’t it?

“I can’t believe we’re on, still talking about staying at home in January – it’s 11 months since I was first on your programme about this pandemic.”

Yesterday the country recorded 1782 new coronavirus cases – with most (595) in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, 307 in Lanarkshire, 194 in Lothian and 144 in Ayrshire and Arran.

The total was less than in previous days when the figure topped 2600 but the chief medical officer said it is too early to know if cases are coming down.

Across Scotland, there are currently 1664 in people in hospital with Covid. The First Minister said this is "quite a bit above the peak of the first wave".

There are also 126 people in intensive case.