Scots have been told that wearing a face mask in public is "no bad thing" as the NHS continues to struggle.
Jason Leitch said today that coverings could be a positive legacy of the covid restrictions that shut down the country for months on end.
The Scottish Government's National Clinical Director spoke out as senior medics continue to warn of the severe pressures facing the health service.
Leitch urged those who are unwell to stay away from work in order to help the NHS and said people should not “lose hope” about the state of the NHS.
Some senior medics have described ambulances queueing outside emergency departments and being forced to treat patients outside the doors of the hospital.
Leitch said A&E is not the only part of the health service feeling the squeeze.
"If we lose hope, then we’re in trouble. So there are things we can do in the system to make it better," he told BBC Radio Scotland.
Covid, flu and Strep A are all contributing to the pressure but the fundamental problem is around bed-blocking, he said.
Between one in eight and one in 10 of all hospital beds are occupied by someone with Covid or flu, Prof Leitch said.
He asked people to use the health service “wisely”, noting that 500,000 have used NHS inform to look up details of Strep A.
He also asked people to be patient with services like NHS 24 due to high demand.
Those who are sick should stay at home, he said, adding: “It means not going to your office, not going to drive that bus.
“If you have a virus, if you’re not well, you should stay at home.”
Leitch also said it would not be a “bad idea” for people to wear face masks in public places.
“That will be no bad thing for Scotland and the UK to inherit from the Covid pandemic,” he said.
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