Good Morning Britain’s Dr Hilary Jones suggested a temporary discouragement of close contact, such as handshakes and hugs, should be considered amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The doctor said that some physical contact such as kisses on the cheek while the virus was still highly transmissible was “asking for trouble”.
But hosts Adil Ray and Kate Garraway were soon left backing the discouragement of close contact, after learning some truly horrifying statistics about hand washing and hygiene.
Author Ella Al-Shamahi and comedian Stephen Bailey were guests on GMB on Wednesday, debating whether hugs and handshakes should be banned altogether.
Viewers had shared their thoughts via a GMB Twitter poll, with 81 percent of viewers saying they should not be banned.
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Host Kate predicted this might change dramatically though, after Ella confessed something pretty disgusting about the amount of people who wash their hands after using the toilet.
After it was revealed experts were suggesting people should not shake hands amid the pandemic due to the germs that can be found on a person’s hands, Hilary advised that while the pandemic was ongoing he agreed with this.
He said on the show: “We’re in a pandemic so it’s not really a great idea. Especially the kiss on either cheek, French style, that is just asking for trouble isn’t it.
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“It’s just like breathing into somebody’s mouth doing that. So in terms of the pandemic, we shouldn’t be doing it and that is the official advice.”
Kate asked if hugs and handshakes should be banned entirely, to which he added: “Not ban it, just discourage it.”
Ella then responded to this, before sharing the stats that left Kate and Adil grimacing and shouting out.
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She said of handshakes: “I agree with Dr Hilary, they do pass on germs and we definitely shouldn’t be doing it right now.
“I mean some of the statistics are really gross on them, like globally only 19 percent of people actually wash their hands after a number two.”
Adil suddenly shouted out: “Ohhh,” as Stephen quipped: “This is why I don’t touch people.”
Kate then joked: “Ella, I think we might have just flipped those statistics around with that sentence, everyone is gonna be voting the other way!”
Adil shouted: “Crikey, almighty,” as he and Kate proceeded to pull a series of faces of disgust over the comment.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/gmb-hosts-grimace-over-gross-23909844