Boris Johnson has apologised for failing to wear a face covering while on a hospital visit in the North East.
The Prime Minister was pictured greeting nurses at Hexham Hospital without a mask last week, causing a massive backlash online.
Number 10 initially dismissed suggestions that the Prime Minister had broken any rules, telling journalists that he had "followed the Covid measures in place during his visit, including wearing a mask in all clinical areas."
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Those comments came despite the hospital's own advice clearly stating that masks should be worn "at all times to protect patients, visitors and staff."
Appearing before the powerful Commons liaison committee this afternoon, Mr Johnson finally acknowledged that he had breached rules by "mistake" and apologised.
He said: "It was barely 30 seconds when I wasn't wearing a mask. I walked out of a room mistakenly not wearing it. I then put it on as soon as I realised I made that mistake. I apologise for it.
"Most pictures of my visit to the to the hospital will show that I was duly masked throughout."
The comments will raise questions over why Number 10 denied Mr Johnson had breached any rules.
ChronicleLive revealed last week that Mr Johnson had to in fact be reminded by staff of the need to wear a mask in all settings.
We understand the Prime Minister had just finished his round of afternoon broadcast interviews in a hospital side room and had forgot to put his mask back on.
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