THE Scottish Health Secretary has dismissed critics of Nicola Sturgeon after she was filmed without a mask on during a campaign visit.

Humza Yousaf accused those attacking the First Minister of trying to “deflect” attention away from the partygate scandal in Westminster.

Sturgeon was snapped without a face covering on in a hairdressers in East Kilbride on Saturday, sparking criticism from the Scottish Conservatives.

Yousaf told STV: “The First Minister did, I imagine, what many of us have done before. There was a momentary lapse. I think we’ve all done it, I’ve done it,” said Yousaf.

“Where you are in a place where you should be wearing a face covering and you suddenly realise you haven’t got one on and you quickly fiddle around in your pockets and you find one and stick it on and that’s really the end of the matter.”

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The Health Secretary added: “The First Minister did the same and she will always be the first to put her hands up and say look, ‘I realise here, a mistake was made’, but upon realising that mistake was made, she quickly rectified it.

“So look, these things happen. But I think anybody trying to make too much political capital out of this is probably trying to deflect the way as the Tories are trying to do from what Boris Johnson and those in Westminster have done – which is a far more flagrant breach, of course, and a deliberate breach of the rules in comparison to anything the First Minister has done.”

Earlier on Monday, national clinical director Jason Leitch defended Sturgeon, saying her mask was only off for “a matter of seconds”.

The Conservatives reacted angrily to those comments, while some high profile figures on social media called for the First Minister to resign.

MSP Craig Hoy said: "Mr Leitch is also misrepresenting the Covid laws as they stood when Nicola Sturgeon clearly broke them at the weekend.”

Tory colleague Murdo Fraser also shared posts from GB news presenter Dan Wootton and businessman Duncan Bannatyne calling for the First Minister to resign. 

At the time of Sturgeon’s visit to the barbers on Saturday, there was a legal requirement to wear face coverings in most indoor public places in Scotland, including shops, public transport and hairdressers. That rule moved into guidance on Monday.

A Police Scotland confirmed a complaint about the matter was being “assessed”.

They then confirmed later on Monday that "no further action" would be taken after speaking with the First Minister

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Commenting on Sunday, an SNP spokesperson said: "The First Minister was invited into the barbers during an outdoor visit on the street. Within a few seconds, she realised she hadn't put her mask back on and immediately put it on."

It comes as Boris Johnson prepares to face MPs over the partygate scandal.

Despite having been fined for a birthday bash in Downing Street during in June 2020, the Prime Minister’s allies say he stuck to the rules.

A source told the Times that while Johnson accepts “mistakes were made”, he still does not believe he technically breached the restrictions.

The Tory leader is understood to have been present for at least six of the 12 events being investigated by the Metropolitan Police for breaking Covid rules, and is braced for more fines potentially to come.