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Coronavirus: Calderwood apology over second home visit | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Scotland's chief medical officer has apologised "unreservedly" for visiting her second home in Fife during the coronavirus lockdown. | |
In a statement, Dr Catherine Calderwood said she would continue to focus on her job. | |
She faced criticism after pictures of her family trip to Earlsferry were published in The Scottish Sun. | |
Together with Nicola Sturgeon, she has been leading calls for the public to stay at home to defeat the virus. | |
She said: "While there are reasons for what I did, they do not justify it and they were not legitimate reasons to be out of my home. | |
"While I and my family followed the guidance on social distancing at all times, I understand that I did not follow the advice I am giving to others, and I am truly sorry for that. | |
"I know how important this advice is and I do not want my mistake to distract from that. | |
"I have a job to do as chief medical officer to provide advice to ministers on the path of this virus and to support the medical profession as they work night and day to save lives, and having spoken with the first minister this morning I will continue to focus entirely on that job." | |
The photographs were published three days after Dr Calderwood tweeted a photograph of her family clapping the NHS at their main home in Edinburgh. | |
The Scottish Sun reported that they were seen walking across a golf course in Earlsferry on Saturday. | The Scottish Sun reported that they were seen walking across a golf course in Earlsferry on Saturday. |
Earlsferry is a drive of more than an hour from Edinburgh. | Earlsferry is a drive of more than an hour from Edinburgh. |
The images emerged amid continuing advice from the CMO and other leading medical professionals and politicians to stay at home in order to save lives and protect the NHS. | The images emerged amid continuing advice from the CMO and other leading medical professionals and politicians to stay at home in order to save lives and protect the NHS. |
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. | 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. |
England's Health Secretary Matt Hancock said staying at home this weekend was an instruction and "not a request". | England's Health Secretary Matt Hancock said staying at home this weekend was an instruction and "not a request". |
'Massive error of judgement' | 'Massive error of judgement' |
Prior to her apology, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said "with great regret" that Dr Calderwood should lose her job over the issue. | |
"It is difficult to see how the chief medical officer will be able to carry the important messages about the virus and the lockdown if she has not even followed it herself," he said. | "It is difficult to see how the chief medical officer will be able to carry the important messages about the virus and the lockdown if she has not even followed it herself," he said. |
"There is no doubt she has worked incredibly hard and led the country well through the early stages of this crisis. | "There is no doubt she has worked incredibly hard and led the country well through the early stages of this crisis. |
"Yet it is difficult to see how she can continue to do that when she has made this massive error of judgement." | "Yet it is difficult to see how she can continue to do that when she has made this massive error of judgement." |
Her actions have also been criticised on social media, with MSP Monica Lennon, Labour's health spokeswoman, describing it as "extremely disappointing and hypocritical". | Her actions have also been criticised on social media, with MSP Monica Lennon, Labour's health spokeswoman, describing it as "extremely disappointing and hypocritical". |
"If the chief medical officer can't lead by example what chance do we have of convincing people to stay at home?" | "If the chief medical officer can't lead by example what chance do we have of convincing people to stay at home?" |
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said on Twitter: "Lockdown is incredibly difficult but the rules apply to us all. | Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said on Twitter: "Lockdown is incredibly difficult but the rules apply to us all. |
"I really don't know what Dr Calderwood can have been thinking to go against the official coronavirus government advice she has been advocating and act in this irresponsible way." | "I really don't know what Dr Calderwood can have been thinking to go against the official coronavirus government advice she has been advocating and act in this irresponsible way." |
Earlier a Scottish government spokesman said Dr Calderwood had been working seven days a week preparing Scotland's response to the Covid-19 crisis and she decided to check on the family home in Fife as she would not be back until after the lockdown. | |
"She stayed overnight before returning to Edinburgh," he added. | |
"In line with guidance she stayed within her own household group and observed appropriate social distancing with anyone she was in passing in the village." | |