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Catherine Calderwood said the justifiable focus on her behaviour risked becoming a distraction from the hugely important job that government and the medical profession had to do in getting

the country through this coronavirus pandemic. In her statement, Dr Calderwood said: "I am deeply sorry for my actions and the mistakes I have made. "The First Minister and I have

had a further conversation this evening and we have agreed that the justifiable focus on my behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job that government and the

medical profession has to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic. "Having worked so hard on the government's response, that is the last thing I want. "The

most important thing to me now and over the next few very difficult months is that people across Scotland know what they need to do to reduce the spread of this virus and that means they

must have complete trust in those who give them advice." Dr Calderwood initially apologised after photos of herself and her family near a coastal retreat in Earlsferry were published in

The Scottish Sun on Saturday. Just days earlier, the 51-year-old tweeted a photo of her family at their main residence in Edinburgh as they clapped for the frontline NHS staff working to

stop the spread of Covid-19. The 51-year-old, who was issued with a police warning over her conduct, told the briefing at the Scottish Government headquarters in Edinburgh on Sunday she had

also visited the home in Fife last weekend with her husband. She will now work with her team "over the next few days to ensure a smooth transition" to her successor. Ms Sturgeon

said she did not know about Dr Calderwood's visits to the home, a drive of more than an hour from Edinburgh, until Saturday night. The First Minister again backed the doctor's

advice, saying: "Dr Calderwood's advice to me, to the government and to people across Scotland over the past few weeks has been the right advice. "People should continue to

stay at home to protect the NHS and to save lives. READ MORE: 'YOU'VE LOST COUNTRY'S CONFIDENCE!' STURGEON'S MEDICAL CHIEF SLATED  "While she has made a very

serious mistake in her actions, that should not detract from the fact that as CMO she has made a highly valuable contribution to the medical profession and to health in Scotland, and I have

no doubt she will continue to do so in future. "She leaves office with my thanks and admiration." Earlier on Sunday evening, Ms Sturgeon confirmed Dr Calderwood was withdrawing

from the daily updates and would also no longer feature in the Scottish Government's advertising campaign. Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said officers had visited Dr

Calderwood and issued a warning about her conduct. Mr Livingstone said in a statement: "Earlier today, local officers visited Dr Catherine Calderwood and spoke to her about her actions,

reiterated crucial advice and issued a warning about her future conduct, all of which she accepted. "The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply

to everyone. "Social distancing is the key intervention to curtail the spread of coronavirus and it is essential that the instructions are followed to protect each other, take strain

from the NHS and save lives. "Individuals must not make personal exemptions bespoke to their own circumstances."