Scotland’s nationwide scientific director suggested Humza Yousaf to maintain a drink in his palms always to stay “exempt” from masks guidelines at a dinner, the UK Covid Inquiry has heard.

The UK Covid Inquiry was proven a WhatsApp alternate between Prof Jason Leitch and the then well being secretary.

Prof Leitch informed the now first minister “literally no-one” adopted official steerage about sporting a masks when not seated at dinner.

He denied giving him a “workaround”.

The nationwide scientific adviser stated it was “tricky” to adjust to steerage at such events, and admitted breaking the identical rule.

He informed the inquiry he had believed it was “legitimate” to face with no masks after being approached for {a photograph} at a dinner.

The first minister’s spokesperson stated Mr Yousaf had sought “clarity on what the rules meant”. He denied Mr Yousaf was not on prime of the foundations as a authorities minister in the course of the pandemic.

Prof Leitch confirmed he used an auto-delete operate on a Covid WhatsApp chat in the course of the pandemic however insisted he adopted Scottish authorities data administration coverage.

But he stated a WhatsApp remark he made, beforehand proven on the inquiry, about deleting messages as a “pre-bed ritual” was a “flippant exaggeration”.

Messages learn out on the inquiry confirmed then well being secretary Mr Yousaf, who served within the position between 2021 and 2023, requested the nationwide scientific director for steerage earlier than attending a dinner the place he was attributable to give a speech.

Mr Yousaf wrote: “I know sitting at the table, I don’t need my mask. If I’m standing talking to folk, need my mask on? [sic].”

Prof Leitch responded: “Officially yes. But literally no-one does. Have a drink in your hands at ALL times. Then you’re exempt. So if someone comes over and you stand, lift your drink.”

The inquiry heard that on the time, in November 2021, the Delta and Omicron variants had been driving a surge in infections, resulting in a peak in circumstances eight instances greater than in the course of the preliminary Covid wave in 2020.

Counsel to the inquiry, Jamie Dawson KC, requested: “If health secretary didn’t understand the rules, what chance did anyone else have?”

Prof Leitch informed the inquiry there was “difficulty” and “nuance” with the foundations about sporting a masks at hospitality capabilities and that he obtained the impression no-one adopted the official steerage on the “few” such events he attended.

He stated it was a “tricky area that I found tricky as well”.

The nationwide scientific director described an incident that was posted on social media when he was approached at a dinner and requested for a photograph however didn’t have masks on.

“Strictly speaking that was breaking the rules but it was during a dinner and during a social occasion and therefore I thought it was legitimate,” he informed the inquiry.

Prof Leitch rejected a suggestion Mr Dawson that he had provided the then well being secretary a “workaround” to the foundations.

“I gave him advice to show him how to comply with the rules,” the nationwide scientific director stated.

He informed the inquiry that aside from direct Twitter messages, he had not retained any one-to-one casual communications associated to managing the pandemic.

Prof Leitch was requested about why he stated in a WhatsApp group chat from May 2021: “WhatsApp deletion is a pre-bed ritual.”

He informed the inquiry he didn’t delete messages on daily basis.

“This was a flippant exaggeration in an informal messaging group and it wasn’t done every day before I went to bed,” the nationwide scientific director informed the inquiry.

In one other WhatsApp chat, Prof Leitch suggested colleagues in September 2020: “Just my usual reminder to delete your chat … particularly after we reach a conclusion.”

The nationwide scientific director informed the inquiry that he was following Scottish authorities steerage that when a call had been reached, and that had been submitted to the data administration system, the chat ought to then be deleted.

Prof Leitch stated he additionally utilized an auto-delete operate to a bunch with chief medical officer Gregor Smith and Jim McMenamin, the chairman of the National Incident Management Team.

Asked whose messages he thought that will take away, the nationwide scientific director answered: “That’s good question I think it deletes everybody’s.”

He stated he was “comfortable” doing so regardless of the danger it may delete messages earlier than a submission had been made to the company report as a result of “the decisions we were coming to were being dealt with very, very quickly”.

Meanwhile, at Holyrood, Scottish Labour well being spokeswoman Jackie Baillie stated Prof Leitch appeared to have suggested Mr Yousaf “how to avoid the rules” and recommended he ought to be sacked if the federal government agreed his behaviour was “inappropriate”.

She stated: “It is clear that Jason Leitch wiped his messages completely and seem to find the period during the pandemic all quite funny, judging from the messages we have seen.”

Scottish Tory well being spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane stated that “behind the scenes it is clear the Scottish government was mocking us, believing none of this would ever come to light”.

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison Ms Robison stated it was vital the inquiry was allowed to scrutinise messages and decision-making.

“It’s for the inquiry, obviously, to determine if it has concerns about the application of mobile messaging policy or their content,” she informed MSPs.

The finance secretary added that it was not “fair” to deal with any particular person and Prof Leitch was not current to defend himself.

Next to provide proof to the inquiry was Devi Sridhar, professor and chair of worldwide public well being on the University of Edinburgh, who gave recommendation to the Scottish authorities in the course of the pandemic.

She stated she had obtained abuse and dying threats after turning into a well known determine in the course of the disaster.

She spoke about what she described as her “close working relationship” with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who she stated provided to turn out to be her first consumer after qualifying as a private coach in a “throwaway” remark.

Prof Sridhar stated they solely met in individual twice, each at official conferences.

The inquiry was proven a number of exchanges between the pair through Twitter direct messages.

In the alternate from June 2020, Prof Sridhar stated she was apprehensive about overstepping the mark by sending a draft coverage paper to Ms Sturgeon.

The then first minister replied: “Don’t worry about protocol”, including that “tackling the virus more important than that”.

Ms Sturgeon additionally stated she would “handle any issues on that front”.

She then gave the professor her private SNP e mail deal with and cellular quantity.

Prof Sridhar informed the inquiry: “I think people emphasised a lot that they felt I was under pressure or I was too friendly with her and I thought that came out because we got on quite well.”

But the general public well being skilled stated she had “similar relationships” with many politicians, together with chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth and Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran.