Scottish government recommends face masks be worn in shops and on public transport

She said 10,721 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 200 from 10,521 the day before.

There are 126 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms and 1,754 people are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19.

Ms Sturgeon added 2,448 people who tested positive for coronavirus have now been able to leave hospital.

She said the Scottish Government is not recommending the use of face masks for children under the age of two.

The First Minister added: “We are recommending that you do wear a cloth face covering if you are in an enclosed space with others where social distancing is difficult, for example public transport or in a shop.”

The policy appears to contradict earlier advice from Scotland’s national clinical director.

Professor Jason Leitch said on April 3: “The global evidence – and we’ve looked properly, I promise you – is that masks in the general population don’t work.

“People don’t wear them properly, they’re hard, they’re difficult, they’re uncomfortable.”

To be clear, the benefit comes mainly in cases where someone might have the virus but isn’t aware of that

Ms Sturgeon said the new guidance is related to “face coverings made of cloth or other textiles, such as a scarf” and not medical-grade masks.

She said: “The guidance we are publishing today firstly makes clear the most important step we can all take to prevent transmission of the virus is to comply with the current stay at home social distancing and hygiene rules.”