SCOTTISH Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has said she fears Dominic Cummings' breaking lockdown rules has "confused" the message in Scotland.

She told the daily coronavirus briefing the " stay at home" guidance "may have become confused following events in other parts of the United Kingdom".

She said self-isolating is not the same as lockdown and means “you should not leave the house for any reason” and that the Cummings issue is a matter for the UK Government. 

“So let me be clear what we mean here in Scotland. Self-isolation means the following: if you think you have the virus, if you have a persistent cough, or a fever, or loss of taste and/or smell, you should self-isolate at home for a minimum of seven days.

“In that time you should get tested if you can, bearing in mind that testing is now open to anyone over the age of five who has symptoms.

“At the same time anyone in your household should self-isolate for 14 days to see if they develop virus, and if they do, they should self-isolate for seven days from that point.

“From the eighth day, if you do not have any more symptoms you can go back, back to the lockdown measures that apply across the country.”

READ MORE: Scottish Conservatives silent as Dominic Cummings row rages on

Journalists asked Freeman whether Cummings should resign if childcare isn't a reason for self-isolating elsewhere.

She said her message is very clear, adding: "You have achieved so much, that the numbers that we read out every day show how much you have achieved. Our NHS has not been overwhelmed, and that is down to you."

READ MORE: Dominic Cummings 'made SECOND Durham trip' during virus lockdown