During the UK Covid Inquiry, it was revealed that Scotland’s national clinical director, Prof Jason Leitch, advised then Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to stay exempt from mask rules by keeping a drink in his hands at a social event in late 2021. The inquiry showed a WhatsApp exchange between the two. Prof Leitch claimed nobody at dinner followed official guidance about wearing a mask when not seated. He denied giving a “workaround” but rather advice on how to comply with the rules.
It was revealed that the Delta and Omicron variants were driving a surge in infections at the time of the event, leading to a peak in cases eight times higher than during the initial Covid wave in 2020. Counsel to the inquiry questioned how the health secretary didn’t understand the rules of wearing a mask, and why anyone else should follow them.
Prof Leitch confirmed that he, too, found it tricky to comply with guidance at such occasions, and even broke the same rule. During a dinner, he was approached for a photograph but didn’t have his mask on. He believed it was legitimate since it was a social occasion. In addition, Prof Leitch admitted using an auto-delete function on a Covid WhatsApp chat during the pandemic, despite following Scottish government records management policy.
Following Prof Leitch’s evidence, Devi Sridhar, professor and chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, gave her evidence and spoke about her “close working relationship” with former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, during the pandemic. Ms Sridhar said she was “worried about getting involved with messy politics” but also had “similar relationships” with many politicians.
The inquiry continues to investigate the UK’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on decisions taken by the government and advice given to ministers
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