FACE masks could become mandatory for the public if the science changes, according to Scotland’s national clinical director.
Jason Leitch declined to rule out stricter rules on face coverings and said he had “never” seen science move at a faster pace.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday changed her government’s approach by backing wearing face masks in public in "limited circumstances".
She added: "We are recommending that you do wear a cloth face covering if you are in an enclosed space with others where social distancing is difficult, for example public transport or in a shop."
However, the policy appeared to contradict earlier advice from Leitch, who has been one of the Government’s key communicators during the pandemic.
Professor Leitch said on April 3: "The global evidence - and we've looked properly, I promise you - is that masks in the general population don't work.
"People don't wear them properly, they're hard, they're difficult, they're uncomfortable."
Asked on the BBC this morning if he had now changed his view, he said: “Science is interesting. The population, I think, are learning that unless scientists only come on the radio once in their lives, they are often wrong in hindsight. They are often wrong in hindsight because things change.”
Leitch said the new guidance was as a result of two things changing. He said there was “low level” evidence of “asymptomatic” spread of coronavirus, and added that people were already beginning to wear face coverings.
Asked whether they might become mandatory, he said: “It may if the science changes.”
He added: "I've never seen science move at this pace in my life."
Sturgeon had said the new guidance related to "face coverings made of cloth or other textiles, such as a scarf" and not medical-grade masks.
She said: "The guidance we are publishing today firstly makes clear the most important step we can all take to prevent transmission of the virus is to comply with the current stay at home social distancing and hygiene rules."
