Scotland's chief medical officer will no longer attend press briefings after twice visiting her second home while advising the public to stay indoors.

Dr Catherine Calderwood was photographed by The Scottish Sun visiting her holiday home on the east coast of the country over the weekend - and she has admitted it was the second time she had done so during the lockdown.

"As well as this weekend, it's important to be clear, that I also was there last weekend with my husband," she told the Scottish government's daily coronavirus briefing on Sunday.

"I did not follow the advice I am giving to others. I'm truly sorry for that."

Image: Dr Calderwood said she had no good reason to visit her holiday home. Pic: The Scottish Sun / News Licensing

Dr Calderwood said there were "reasons" for her to have left her house in Edinburgh to go to her other home in Fife, but that they were "not legitimate reasons".


Last month, the Scottish government issued a warning, criticising the "irresponsible behaviour" of those with second homes and campervans who travelled to the Highlands in an attempt to self-isolate.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon defended Dr Calderwood during the press briefing, but has since confirmed the chief medic will not attend future press conferences.

Earlier, she said her advice had been "invaluable" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"All of us, including me, will make mistakes in these unprecedented times we're living in," said Ms Sturgeon.

"When we do, we must be candid about it and learn from. That is what I know the chief medical officer is doing, in making abundantly clear that she was wrong."

Image: Dr Calderwood said she had no good reason to visit her holiday home. Pic: The Scottish Sun / News Licensing

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Asked by Sky News' diplomatic editor Dominic Waghorn if she was aware about the weekend trips, Ms Sturgeon admitted she was not.

"I didn't know about this until I was alerted to the story from The Scottish Sun last night," she said.

"I'm 100% focused on the job I've got to do and there is no dubiety about that whatsoever."

Just a few days ago, Dr Calderwood tweeted out a photo of her family clapping at their Edinburgh residence in celebration of NHS staff working to stop the spread of the virus.

But on Sunday she was given a warning by Police Scotland about her conduct after her visits.

In a statement issued on Twitter, the force said that Dr Catherine Calderwood accepted that she had gone against her own advice to the Scottish people.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: "Local officers visited Dr Catherine Calderwood and spoke to her about her actions, reiterated crucial advice and issued a warning about her future conduct, all of which she accepted.

"Individuals must not make personal exemptions bespoke to their own circumstances."

Image: Scotland's Chief Medical Officer has appeared at the country's coronavirus briefings

Questions are being asked by those in opposition at Holyrood about whether Dr Calderwood's position is tenable.

In her statement on social media, Dr Calderwood said that she had spoken to Ms Sturgeon - the SNP leader - on Sunday morning and said that she will "continue to focus entirely" on her role.

But the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have all called for her to go.

"Dr Calderwood's position is very difficult, untenable even, given the damage this has caused public trust," Scottish Conservatives leader Jackson Carlaw said.

"The vast majority of Scots are complying with official advice to stay home and protect our NHS.

"There cannot be one rule for the bosses and another one for everyone else."

Image: Nicola Sturgeon is facing calls to sack the chief medical officer

The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie MSP, and Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain both represent the constituencies of Dr Calderwood's second home.

In a joint statement, the two called for her to go, saying: "There is no doubt she has worked incredibly hard and led the country well through the early stages of this crisis.

"If we are going to get through this pandemic, we need medical leaders who everyone can follow.

"It is with great regret that we say that the chief medical officer will need to go."