ONE of Scotland’s top medics has rubbished suggestions that the Government could allow a coronavirus “amnesty” on Christmas day.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Nicola Steedman responded to calls from the Bishop of Paisley for a 24-hour break in Covid restrictions to avoid a "digital Christmas".

Bishop John Keenan, writing in the Sunday Times, urged authorities to consider a one-day "circuit-breaker" to allow loved ones to mix on Christmas Day. He compared it to the temporary ceasefire enacted on the Western Front during the First World War.

The bishop also said that "great care" would have to be taken with this to protect the vulnerable and the elderly, but raised the risk of "emptiness, loneliness and hopelessness at what should be the happiest time of year".

READ MORE: Leading Scottish bishop calls for First World War-style Covid break on Christmas Day

Steedman, however, has shot down the idea, warning it has no basis in science.

She told BBC Scotland’s Seven Days programme: “I’ve heard to this referred to as an ‘amnesty’, a little bit like the previous amnesties on Christmas day in the world war.

“The difficulty with this particular amnesty is that our opponent, if you like, hasn’t agreed to the amnesty. This is not something Covid has signed up to and said: ‘Well yes I’ll stop infecting people on Christmas day and you can all just go about your business.’”

Earlier this week, national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said officials were working to make the festive period as normal as possible, but warned Scots should "get their digital Christmas ready".

Holyrood ministers have said it is too early to know what measures will have to be in place in eight weeks' time to protect public health.