One of Scotland's most senior health officials has criticised people who spread conspiracy theories about coronavirus as "deeply irresponsible".
It follows a protest in Edinburgh on Saturday where over 400 people demonstrated against rules designed to stop the spread of the virus.
A number of placards at protest outside the Scottish Parliament with messages claiming coronavirus was a "hoax".
Responding to a question about them at the government's daily coronavirus briefing about the protests, national clinical director Jason Leitch said: "The problem here is that the protest isn't just putting the individuals at risk who are on the protest but the public health of the population is at stake here, that's why it's so deeply irresponsible.
"I read a horrible story of a gentleman in America who believed the conspiracy theories and they lived in Florida, and his wife caught COVID and died. He's now all over the media in the US telling people to not believe what he believed.
"This virus is real and it killed his wife."
He said it was "deeply irresponsible to spread rumours and falsehoods about this virus and to influence others to come with you on that journey. It really distresses me."
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Nicola Sturgeon said that whilst people have the right to protest in a democracy, they should be adhering to rules to avoid transmission.
"This virus is not made up, this pandemic is not made up. The impact of this pandemic is not a figment of our imagination," the First Minister added.
