Dr Hilary Jones had his say on reports Prime Minister Boris Johnson may allow hugging in England from next Monday, with him urging caution.
The Good Morning Britain doctor told of the benefits of hugging, but warned there was a greater risk of coronavirus transmission if people started touching everybody.
Hilary said that with coronavirus still spreading in the UK and around the world, with new variants detected, it could be a “mistake” to start allowing such close contact.
While it is yet to be confirmed, Johnson is tipped to announce hugging will be allowed from Monday May 17 when the lockdown rules change again in England.
With bigger groups allowed to gather outdoors, and groups of six allowed indoors, the allowance of hugging is a late change to the earlier announced new rules.
![Dr Hilary Jones had his say on reports Prime Minister Boris Johnson may allow hugging from next Monday](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article24074056.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_SDC_MDG_-Good-Morning-Britain_21291JPG.jpg)
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But Dr Hilary urged caution with the news, and told people to be “selective” if they are going to get close to people.
Speaking on the show, he described the increased risk of transmission as “quite substantial” with close contact such as hugging.
He explained: “If you are in hugging range and you’re touching somebody, and your face is right next to their’s, you are gonna be breathing the breath that they are exhaling.
![Hilary suggested that with coronavirus still spreading in the UK and around the world, with new variants detected, it could be a "mistake" to start allowing such close contact](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article24074060.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_two-women-hugging-at-work.jpg)
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“The virus is transmitted through aerosol droplets, so the risk is much higher.”
He went on: “Professor Noakes, she’s part of SAGE, she’s saying that actually she’s worried, and that hugs should be selective.
“They should be short, they should be selective… hug your children, hug your grandchildren, not promiscuous hugs we’re not talking about here, not hugging everybody, not getting too close for too long.”
Hilary added: “It’s great, hugs actually have a benefit in health in terms of, forget the aerosol transmission of viruses for a moment, there’s all sorts of things that happen.”
![Good Morning Britain's Dr Hilary Jones talked of the benefits of hugging, before warning of the 'risk'](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article24074062.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_SDC_MDG_-Good-Morning-Britain_21292JPG.jpg)
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He went on to share that they release comforting hormones and happy hormones which make people “feel more relaxed” and that “anxiety diminishes, depression diminishes”.
Hilary then urged caution again though, stating that while hugging was beneficial especially for those who have become touch deprived, it was important to remain sensible.
He told the hosts: “Right now it might be a mistake, because we have got these new variants, we’ve still got 2,000 cases that we know about every day, probably a lot more that we’re not testing for, so it is still time to be cautious.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/gmbs-dr-hilary-jones-warns-24073934