Nicola Sturgeon said she would “strongly encourage people” to wear face coverings in shops but is still considering whether to make it mandatory.
The First Minister said the Government was prepared to force the majority of people to wear face coverings in public but it had not made a final decision whether to implement the policy.
With evidence suggesting wearing a face covering can help prevent the spread of coronavirus in situations where social distancing is not always possible, Ms Sturgeon urged people to do it voluntarily to protect others from the disease.