Scotland’s national clinical director Prof Jason Leitch has been giving evidence at the UK Covid Inquiry.
He was questioned by Jamie Dawson KC about a message from then Health Secretary Humza Yousaf asking about advice for wearing a face mask at social occasions.
In the message Prof Leitch tells him he should be wearing a mask if he is standing up but adds that no-one else is doing it.
He said the rules did not cover “standing politely” if someone came to talk to you at the table.
He said he gave Mr Yousaf advice on how to comply with the rules on wearing a mask – by holding a drink at all times while at a drinks reception.
Referring to the exchange with Humza Yousaf, Mr Dawson said: “If the health secretary didn’t understand the rules, what chance did anyone else have?”