Scots are expected to be told to use scarves to cover their mouth and nose instead of wearing masks during the coronavirus outbreak, according to reports.
The nation's top scientists have been discussing the benefits of masks, and whether they could slow the spread of Covid-19 by being made compulsory.
The advisory group on emergencies, known as Sage, is set to meet today and are expected to tell ministers that surgical masks should only be used by medical workers.
Due to worldwide shortage of personal protective equiptment (PPE), the public is instead likely to be told to wear home-made masks, scarves or bandanas to cover their mouths and noses, the Guardian reports.
Ministers are thought to have changed their tune on wearing coverings in public after previously saying they did not protect people from the virus.
Nicola Sturgeon has signalled that wearing face masks are set to become commonplace in Scotland.
In a daily briefing last week, the first minister said any guidance on whether people should wear them would be a face covering such as a scarf, to ensure there are no shortages for NHS staff.
A top doctor has said it would make sense to advise the public to wear coverings on a voluntary basis and expects the Government to alter its guidance.
The chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners Professor Martin Marshall said: "If [people] are coughing and spluttering then it makes complete sense to wear masks in order to protect other people."
The UK has been somewhat out of step with the rest of the world in terms of mask-wearing.
Many advisors previously advised against them because they don't offer adequate protection from the virus.
But South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong have all issued free masks to the public.
Germany, Italy, Spain and the US are now also making masks compulsory.
