John Swinney has stated face coverings could be mandatory until the end of this year under coronavirus restrictions.
On Tuesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that mask wearing will be in place for "some time" in Scotland, despite the UK Government choosing to scrap the rule in England from next week.
The decision was backed by the Deputy First Minister, as he spoke in an interview on BBC Radio Scotland on Wednesday.
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When asked about how long the rule may be in place, My Swinney stated that it could be as far as Christmas time before coverings are no longer mandatory.
He said: "I think that's perfectly conceivable. I think that we should recognise that we have got to take a careful and cautious approach to the suppression of Covid.
"We know the virus is going to be with us for a long time so the more that we can do, a gradual elementary level to provide obstacles and barriers to the circulation of this virus, the more we should do that."
Mr Swinney also predicted that Scotland will see another surge in cases when the country moves to level zero on Monday (July 19).
Modelling created by the Scottish Government has shown that there could be somewhere between 2,500 and 10,500 when the new restrictions come into force.
He added: "I think it is likely to be much closer to that lower end of the spectrum than the higher end."
It comes as Sturgeon advisor Professor Devi Sridhar also backed the use of face coverings as she spoke on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Wednesday.
She said: "Leaving it up to individual choice could create a problem.
"I think having a standard set of rules makes it simple.
"Business want to stay open, so masks are a small thing we can all do. We're not asking people to wear them outdoors, on beaches or in parks, it something small we can do to protect others indoors."
