Scotland's chief medical officer has apologised live on TV after she was given a police warning for ignoring her own advice, by twice...
Scotland's chief medical officer has apologised live on TV after she was given a police warning for ignoring her own advice, by twice visiting her family's retreat more than 40 miles from her main home.
Doctor Catherine Calderwood said her actions were 'a mistake and human error' and that were 'no excuses'.
But while standing in a press conference beside Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who faced mounting calls to sack the medical expert, she said her intention was to 'continue to focus' on her role.
Ms Sturgeon said Dr Calderwood had offered her resignation, but she declined, saying her expertise and advice had been 'invaluable'.
It comes after photographs, published in The Scottish Sun on Saturday, showed Dr Calderwood and her family near their coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, over the weekend.
In the press conference, Dr Calderwood also admitted to visiting the cottage with her husband the previous weekend.
According to the Scottish Sun, Dr Calderwood's main home is just two-and-a-half miles from the Scottish Government building in Edinburgh, where she delivers daily briefings on the virus with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Earlsferry is 44 miles away from Edinburgh - a drive of around an hour.
A source for the Scottish Sun accused the doctor of 'dangerous double standards', while users of social media site, Twitter, have branded her actions as 'ridiculous' and embarrassing'.
The photographs prompted Police Scotland's Chief Constable, Iain Livingston, to issue a statement today, in which he said that Dr Calderwood had been visited by officers and warned about her future conduct.
In a statement, Dr Calderwood described her actions as a 'mistake' and apologised 'unreservedly'.
But this afternoon she took part in a press conference in which she read out a statement.
Speaking at the press conference, she said: 'I have already issued a statement today apologising unreservedly for travelling away from my home while restrictions were in place.
'As well as this weekend, it is important to be clear that was also there last weekend with my husband.
'I did not follow advice I am giving to others. I am truly sorry for that.'
'What I did was wrong. I am very sorry. It will not happen again.
'I realise how important the advice is that I have issued, I do not want my mistake to distract from that.'
The images emerged amid continuing advice from the Scottish government, the chief medical officer herself, and other leading medical professionals to stay at home in order to save lives and protect the NHS.
It also comes just days after the 51-year-old tweeted a photo of her family from their main residence in Edinburgh as they clapped for the front-line NHS staff working to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Last month, the Scottish Government issued a travel warning criticising the 'irresponsible behaviour' of people with second homes and campervans travelling to the Highlands in a bid to isolate.
On Friday, the First Minister said the upcoming Easter break would be 'a holiday period unlike any we've had in our lifetimes'.
Dr Calderwood, a trained consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, stressed people should adhere to the restrictions, and said it was looking less likely summer holidays will take place this year as they have done previously.
The incident has sparked criticism from Scottish Conservative leader, Jackson Carlaw MSP, who described Dr Calderwood's position as 'untenable'.
In a statement, posted on Twitter, he said: 'Dr Calderwood's position is very difficult, untenable even, given the damage this has caused public trust.
'The vast majority of Scots are complying with official advice to stay at home and protect the NHS.
'There cannot be one rule for the bosses and another for everyone else.'
But Ms Sturgeon has resisted the calls, instead saying it was important that the government was 'able to count on the continued expertise of the chief medical officer at this critical time'.
Speaking at the press conference, Ms Sturgeon said: 'The chief medical officer made a mistake in travelling away from her home.
'Whatever her reasons for doing so, she was wrong and she knows that.
'It was not in line with the advice we are asking everyone to follow.
'She has apologised unreservedly to me and to the public and she’s right to have done so.
She added: 'What I also know is that over these past few weeks as we have been dealing with this crisis her advice and expertise has been invaluable to me and it continues to be so.
“If I am to do what I need to do to steer the country through this crisis to the very best of my ability I need her to be able to focus on the job that she is doing — a job that, not withstanding her mistake on this, she is doing extremely well.'
Today the Scottish Government announced the latest Covid-19 figures, which show a total of 3,706 confirmed cases, up from 3,345 the previous day.
A total of 220 people have died from coronavirus in Scotland.
As of today, there have been 47,806 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the UK.
A total of 4,934 people are known to have died from the virus.
A Scottish Government spokesman said on Saturday: 'Since this start of this epidemic, the CMO has been working seven days a week preparing Scotland's response.
'She took the opportunity this weekend to check on a family home in Fife as she knows she will not be back again until the crisis is over.
'She stayed overnight before returning to Edinburgh.
'In line with guidance, she stayed within her own household group and observed social distancing with anyone she was in passing in the village.'
This afternoon, Police Scotland issued a statement from its Chief Constable, Iain Livingston.
In the statement, he said: 'Local officers have visited Dr Calderwood and spoke about her actions, reiterated crucial advice and issued a warning about her future conduct, all of which she accepted.
'The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply to everyone.
Police Scotland has issued a statement from its Chief Constable Iain Livingstone on Twitter today. In the statement, Mr Livingston said Dr Calderwood had been warned by officers
'Social distancing is the key intervention to curtail the spread of coronavirus and it is essential the instructions are followed to protect each other, support key workers, take strain from the NHS, and save lives.
'Individuals must not make personal exemptions bespoke to their own circumstances. It is vital that everyone adheres to these requirements.
'Police officers and staff are putting themselves in harm's way day and night to explain these instructions to our communities, encourage co-operation and, where necessary, enforce them.
'I want to thank the overwhelming majority of people across the country who are doing their duty during this public health emergency.
'Our fellow citizens are observing the guidance and making significant sacrifices and changes to their lifestyles and daily routines.
'I am grateful for their continued support and co-operation during this critical period.'
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