POLICE have said they will not take action after Nicola Sturgeon was photographed with her mask briefly off at a funeral.
The Scottish Sun published the photograph which showed the First Minister some distance away from three others with her face uncovered.
She was at the Stable Bar and Restaurant in Edinburgh following the funeral of a Scottish Government civil servant who died after contracting Covid-19.
Customers in hospitality venues are required to wear a face covering when not seated and breaches are punishable by a fixed penalty notice of £60.
The First Minister apologised for the breach last night, saying: "Last Friday, while attending a funeral wake, I had my mask off briefly.
"This was a stupid mistake and I'm really sorry. "I talk every day about the importance of masks, so I'm not going to offer any excuses.
"I was in the wrong, I'm kicking myself, and I'm sorry."
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon apologises for brief Covid rule breach while attending wake
Police Scotland said they would not pursue action against the First Minister.
A spokesperson commented: "We’re aware of a photograph of the First Minister which appeared in The Sun, on December 23, in which she was not wearing a face mask at a wake.
"The First Minister has acknowledged this inadvertent breach, for which she has apologised.
"We remind everyone of the requirement to wear face coverings in indoor public places for public health reasons.
"Police Scotland will not be taking any further action in relation to this matter."
Last night Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf came to Sturgeon’s defence, tweeting: "FM has approached pandemic by being upfront from v beginning. She has apologised for accidental lapse (which I suspect most of us have had one over last 9 months). I've known her for 15yrs & she is her harshest critic. I am sure most ppl will understand, accept apology & move on."
National clinical director Professor Jason Leitch told the BBC this morning that he had spoken with the First Minister and she’s “as furious with herself as some might be with her”.
He went on: “We had a brief conversation last night and she’s absolutely mad at this little lapse in concentration.
“It’s so easily done, we live in a completely different world from a year ago, don’t we?”
He said Sturgeon was “just about out the door and was called back”.
He added: “Her mask was off because she was leaving, and then [she went] back in and [had] a little lapse – didn’t put it back on.
“It just reinforces again to all of us the nature of these instructions and this virus, and she is as mad with herself as everybody else.”
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