Whitty: Don’t hug elderly relatives this Christmas

Just because close physical contact will be legal does not make it safe or sensible, warns medical expert

THE Chief Medical Officer has warned family members not to hug elderly relatives this Christmas, as he revealed he will spend the festive period treating patients in hospital.

Prof Chris Whitty said that j ust because close physical contact between people from different households will be legal, that does not mean the practice is safe.

Speaking alongside Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, in Downing Street last night, he warned people to “take it really seriously during Christmas. Don’t do stupid things”.

“Would I encourage someone to hug and kiss their elderly relatives? No I would not ... If you want them to survive to be hugged again,” he said.

His comments came on the day the Government revealed that about 40 per cent of the country will be placed into the most restrictive Tier 3 band from next Wednesday, when the national lockdown ends. However, under a whole-uk agreement up to three households will be able to mix for five days from Dec 23.

Asked if he would hug elderly relatives this Christmas, Prof Whitty said: “It is not against the law – and that’s the whole point.

“You can do it in the rules that are there, but it does not make sense because you could be carrying the virus and if you’ve got an elderly relative, that would not be the thing you want to do in the period where we’re running up to a point where we might be able to protect older people. I think people just have to have sense and this is very much what I think people will do.”

A practising NHS consultant, he added that he would be spending Christmas “on the wards”.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the Chief Scientific Adviser, said households that do mix over Christmas should ensure that wherever they are is well-ventilated and social distancing is followed where possible, and they should “avoid behaviours that would spread the disease”.

He said: “I think hugging elderly relatives is not something to go out and do, it will increase the spread to a vulnerable population.”

Scientists believe that close proximity for a prolonged period of time is one of the main means that the disease spreads.

The other is through touching viral particles left on surfaces, hence the government safety slogan: “Hands, face, space”.

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, previously appeared to rule out hugging relatives and friends at Christmas.

Speaking on Times Radio earlier this month, he said: “I’ve got no doubt that people will continue to respect social distancing throughout, because we know that that is so important for full control of the virus.”

This week the Government pledged that relatives of care home residents in England will be able to hug their loved ones before Christmas if they test negative for coronavirus and wear protective equipment.

Its winter plan, published on Monday, stated: “The Government is committed, by Christmas, to providing twice-weekly testing to enable all care home residents to have regular visits from up to two visitors.”