Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood resigned on Sunday after she flouted her own advice to stay at home to fight the spread of the coronavirus by travelling to her second home on two successive weekends.
She said the justifiable focus on her behaviour risked becoming a distraction from the hugely important job that government and the medical profession had to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic.
"It is with a heavy heart that I resign as chief medical officer," she said.
Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood has resigned. Source: Getty
Photographs of Ms Calderwood visiting her holiday home in Earlsferry, on the east coast of Scotland about an hour's drive from the capital Edinburgh, were published in the Scottish Sun.
"I did not follow the advice I'm giving to others, I'm truly sorry for that," she said at a news conference in Edinburgh on Sunday.
She said she had seen comments calling her a hypocrite and saying she was irresponsible.
"What I did was wrong. I'm very sorry," she said.
"I know how important the advice is I have issued. I do not want my mistake to distract for that."
She also apologised to police and National Health Service (NHS) colleagues.
Police Scotland said officers had spoken to Ms Calderwood about her actions and had warned her about her future conduct.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (L) and CMO Dr Catherine Calderwood give a press conference on the COVID-19 situation earlier this month. Source: AFP
"The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply to everyone," Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said in a statement.
"Individuals must not make personal exemptions bespoke to their own circumstances. It is vital everyone adheres to these requirements."
Scotland has recorded 3345 coronavirus cases and the death toll stands at 218.
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