Scottish Government recommends use of face coverings as 'precautionary measure' in some circumstances
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said face coverings may provide some benefit in enclosed spaces.
During today's coronavirus briefing Ms Sturgeon said guidance on the use of face coverings was being published on the Scottish Government website.
"Evidence on the use of face coverings is limited, however, the guidance recognises there may be some benefit if you're leaving the house and entering an enclosed space and coming into contact with people where social distancing is difficult," she said.
The examples she gave of this included on public transport or in shops.
However she was also keen to stress that face coverings – referring to cloth-type masks rather than the more robust type of protection worn by health and social care workers – were not a substitute for the other protective measures of staying at home as much as possible, regular hand washing and not mixing with people outside your immediate household.
"The benefit comes mainly from someone who has the virus but is unaware of that, having no symptoms and therefore not isolating in line with the rules," she said.
"It may reduce the chance, then, of that person transmitting the virus.
"The government is recommending the use of face coverings as a precautionary measure."
On the basis that the evidence of their benefit was "relatively weak", however, she said there would be no move to make the wearing of face coverings mandatory at this stage.
And she added: "There are some people, for example people with asthma, who may have very good reasons for not wearing face coverings."
She also said that face coverings should not be worn by children aged under two years old.
Today's briefing also gave an update on the numbers of those infected with, and dying from, Covid-19.
As of 9am today 10,721 people in Scotland had tested positive for coronavirus, an increase of 200 from yesterday.
There were 1754 patients in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 – a decrease of eight from yesterday – and 126 people in intensive care known or suspected to have the virus. That was also a decrease of eight from yesterday.
In the last 24 hours a further 70 deaths have been recorded of hospital patients with Covid-19, bringing the total number of deaths under that measure to 1332.
Tomorrow will see the publication of the weekly National Records of Scotland data which will also include deaths where Covid-19 is recorded as a possible or contributory cause.
Ms Sturgeon said the figures gave cause for "cautious optimism".
