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SCOTLAND'S chief medical officer has resigned after being caught flouting coronavirus lockdown rules with trips to her holiday home. 

Dr Catherine Calderwood, 51, was pictured walking with her family near their coastal holiday retreat in Earlsferry, Fife on Saturday.

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 Scotland's chief medical officer has resigned after being pictured flouting a coronavirus lockdown
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Scotland's chief medical officer has resigned after being pictured flouting a coronavirus lockdownCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow
 Dr Catherine Calderwood had earlier apologised for ignoring her own advice but had declined to quit
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Dr Catherine Calderwood had earlier apologised for ignoring her own advice but had declined to quitCredit: Sky News
 Calderwood has been appearing in televised announcements about the pandemic
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Calderwood has been appearing in televised announcements about the pandemic

She later acknowledged having visited the home twice in the last two weeks - after a nationwide lockdown had been imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The governments in both Westminster and Scotland have told people not to travel to second homes while the measures remain in place.

Police visited Dr Calderwood this morning and told her that "laws apply to everyone".

Dr Calderwood's second home is 44 miles from her home in Edinburgh, from where just days ago she tweeted a snap of her family clapping for the NHS.

She said earlier today she had "no excuses" for "not following the advice she has been giving to others", but had declined to offer her resignation.

But in a statement released tonight, she said: "I am deeply sorry for my actions and the mistakes I have made.

"The First Minister and I have had a further conversation this evening and we have agreed that the justifiable focus on my behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job that government and the medical profession has to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic.

"Having worked so hard on the government's response, that is the last thing I want."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had earlier said Calderwood would no longer take part in public information campaigns or media briefings, but that she would "continue to provide the Scottish Government with the scientific and medical advice on the spread of coronavirus."

'TRULY SORRY'

Dr Calderwood had earlier said she was “truly sorry” for not adhering to coronavirus guidelines.

Sturgeon added: "The chief medical officer made a mistake in travelling away from her home.

"Whatever her reasons for doing so it was wrong and she knows that."

"All of us, including me, will make mistakes in these unprecedented times we are living in. "When we do we must be candid about it and learn from it."

Last night one source accused the doctor — who took the Hippocratic Oath to protect patients — of “dangerous double standards”.


Sturgeon and Dr Calderwood hit back at critics over lack of Covid-19 testing


Scotland's Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said today in a statement: "Local officers visited Dr Catherine Calderwood and spoke to her about her actions, reiterated crucial advice and issued a warning about her future conduct, all of which she accepted.

"The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply to everyone."

Dr Calderwood yesterday said there were “reasons” for what she did but that they did not justify her weekend visit.

She said: “I wish to apologise unreservedly for the issue reported in the media today.

“While there are reasons for what I did, they do not justify it and they were not legitimate reasons to be out of my home.

“While I and my family followed the guidance on social distancing at all times, I understand that I did not follow the advice I am giving to others, and I am truly sorry for that.

“I know how important this advice is and I do not want my mistake to distract from that."

Sturgeon added: "Over the past few weeks, as we have been dealing with this crisis, her advice and expertise has been invaluable to me."

It comes days after SNP bosses called for powers to stop second home owners travelling to rural areas.

 She was pictured with her husband and children near their coastal retreat
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She was pictured with her husband and children near their coastal retreatCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow
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A source had slammed Calderwood's decision, saying: “Either we are in lockdown or not? I’m pretty sure government advice is to stay at home and not to travel to second holiday homes.

“But Catherine Calderwood isn’t following the advice. She and her family are potentially bringing the virus to the area.”

Wearing a turquoise jacket, Dr Calderwood looked like she didn’t have a care in the world as she walked with her family and dogs near her bolthole on Saturday.

But locals in the quiet coastal town hit out over the seemingly unnecessary trip, which came after a working week in Edinburgh where she spoke at daily pandemic press briefings alongside First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Residents accused her of failing to heed her own government’s advice that people with second properties should stay at home to protect rural communities during the outbreak.

But Catherine Calderwood isn’t following the advice. She and her family are potentially bringing the virus to the area.

The source said Dr Calderwood was one of several other high-flyers from Edinburgh who had second properties in the area and were putting locals at risk.

One onlooker told The Scottish Sun on Sunday: “They were going for a walk with the dogs. It’s weird.

“I thought she lived in Edinburgh and that we were supposed to stay home — but this place is miles away.”

On Thursday, Dr Calderwood shared a photo of her family outside her capital home taking part in the national Clap for Carers event.

The image was posted as millions ventured on to their doorsteps to applaud our NHS heroes and care workers.

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The snap was taken in the driveway of her upmarket West End home — said to be worth around £1.5million.

Under the hashtag ‘clap for NHS’, the health bigwig told her 24,000 followers: “My family clapping my NHS and care colleagues — and me! Thank you all.”

The following day the Cambridge and Glasgow Universities graduate attended an official Scottish Government press call where she delivered crucial public health advice alongside Ms Sturgeon.

But the mum of three has now angered locals after she was seen walking her dogs with her husband and children across the golf course and heading towards the beach in picturesque Earlsferry, where she has a cosy bungalow.

Dr Calderwood has given regular press conferences on the Covid-19 pandemic at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh where she has repeatedly urged the public to stay within their homes.

 Dr Calderwood shared a photo of her family outside her capital home
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Dr Calderwood shared a photo of her family outside her capital home

This weekend’s trip comes just days after Nats chiefs called for emergency powers to stop second-home owners self-isolating in rural areas, including the Highlands.

MP Ian Blackford said legislation should be used to protect areas with less health infrastructure from visitors trying to flee the coronavirus.

He spoke out after a number of communities reacted angrily as tourists blocked lay-bys and swamped camping areas.

Mr Blackford, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, said: “With Easter almost upon us it is worth reminding everyone of the emergency powers that restrict non-essential travel.

“That means no tourists should be coming to the Highlands and Islands.

“If anyone owns a second or holiday home they should not be using the Highlands to self-isolate and powers exist and must be used to stop this.”

Similar warnings have also been issued in England and Wales.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he did not consider people going to their holiday homes as an essential trip during the crisis.

His plea followed concerns that rural health services could be overwhelmed by those leaving cities who then end up suffering from Covid-19.

 Catherine Calderwood with Nicola Sturgeon
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Catherine Calderwood with Nicola SturgeonCredit: Getty - Pool

Mr Hancock said: “We’ve said that people should not take unnecessary journeys, no unnecessary travel and I don’t regard going to your holiday home as a necessary journey.”

Today it was revealed that a further 46 people have died from coronavirus in Scotland, bringing the total number of deaths to 218.

The UK-wide total increased to almost 5,000.

The latest deaths including a child aged just five — the youngest UK victim so far.

The Scottish Government said 3,345 people had now tested positive for the virus, an increase of 344 from Friday.

In total, 20,798 patients have been tested across the country.

We told how people are now only permitted to leave their homes if they have “reasonable excuse”.

We’ve said that people should not take unnecessary journeys, no unnecessary travel and I don’t regard going to your holiday home as a necessary journey.

Matt Hancock

This includes work that cannot be carried out at home, shopping for food and medical supplies and an hour of daily exercise.

In the six days since new legislation was introduced, police officers have been forced to issue 144 fixed penalty notices to people who have chosen to ignore the measures.

Belfast-born Dr Calderwood has pleaded with Scots to stay at home to protect the NHS and “help save lives” — including on TV and radio ads and at daily press briefings on the pandemic with Ms Sturgeon.

The health chief is a trained consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.

She is also a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and is an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

When asked to explain the official view on travelling to a second home tonight, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “We strongly advise against any travel to second homes.

“It runs the risk of adding pressure to services in more remote and quieter areas, from food supply to health care.”

The Scottish Sun on Sunday then asked why the Chief Medical Officer was ignoring official advice.

An SNP Government spokesman replied: “Since this start of this epidemic, the CMO has been working seven days a week preparing Scotland’s response.

“She took the opportunity this weekend to check on a family home in Fife as she knows she will not be back again until the crisis is over.

“She stayed overnight before returning to Edinburgh. In line with guidance she stayed within her own household group and observed social distancing with anyone she was in passing in the village."

oliver.norton@the-sun.co.uk



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