Scotland's Chief Medical Officer has warned people not to meet up outside to have a socially distanced coffee amid the current coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Dr Gregor Smith made the comments during this afternoon's daily coronavirus briefing, saying that if you do you are "only putting yourself at risk and the other person as well".
He did so in response to a question concerning the 'exercise rule' - which permits people to to undertake local outdoor recreation under the current lockdown restrictions as long as they abide by the rules on meeting other households.
He said: "It’s important we are still participating in physical activity. It’s good for us both physically and mentally, but don’t be going outside to meet each other, have a cup of coffee,sit on a park bench and things like that.
"You are only putting yourself at risk and the other person as well. As the First Minister has outlined, there’s the ability to able to participate in that physical activity outside with one other person from one other household but I certainly wouldn’t be recommending to anyone that they go beyond that and I think anyone who is contemplating that really has to question whether that is an essential form of activity or not.
"I think its good that we still have got the ability to be able to meet with people from other households in that way to take physical activity because it has some impact on reducing loneliness that some people experience but as I say I think we’ve just got to be very careful that we are making sure that at all times we are limiting the ability for this virus to spread to other people."
Dr Smith's comments echoed those made by Nicola Sturgeon, who said that people should abide by the rules when they do go outside to exercise and not not meet up with more than one person from one other household.
She said: "What we are saying to people is that if you go outside just now you can meet one other person from another household. If there are two households coming together that should be two people maximum from two households.
"You can go for a walk, keep two metres apart. Hard surfaces - you should probably avoid if you can…not linger in parks and such like any longer than you have too. The ‘stay at home rule’ is the one that’s really important right now so limit your time out and about.
"Exercise, get fresh air, perhaps see someone from another household for that. Socially distance, catch-up but make sure you are abiding by the rules, that’s really really important."
