Professor Chris Whitty said you shouldn’t hug your elderly relatives this Christmas

A frank and honest statement from England's Chief Medical Officer

Professor Chris Whitty says you shouldn't hug or kiss your elderly relatives this Christmas due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at Thursday's Downing Street press briefing, Professor Whitty said minimising physical contact with elderly people is the best policy "if you want them to survive to be hugged again". He added: "Would I want someone to see their family? Of course, that's what Christmas is about, whether people celebrate Christmas as a festival themselves or from any other belief system. It is an opportunity for families. "But would I encourage someone to hug and kiss their elderly relatives? No, I would not." You are legally entitled to hug an elderly relative - as the UK government have relaxed guidelines to allow families to celebrate Christmas together. [caption id="attachment_257283" align="alignnone" width="2048"] England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has advised against physical contact with elderly relatives this Christmas. (Photo: Getty)[/caption] Professor Chris Whitty - England's Chief Medical Officer - does not recommend this, however. "It is not against the law – and that's the whole point," he said. "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." Professor Whitty acknowledged that relaxing coronavirus restrictions for the few days around Christmas is a risky move. He continued: "In terms of Christmas, Christmas will increase the risk, everyone knows that. That's not a secret at all. But that is not the only risk over this period at all. "Take it really seriously during Christmas. Don't do stupid things. Don't do unnecessary things just because the rules say you can. Think sensibly."