Boris Johnson said he hopes to see his mum for Mother's Day on Sunday - despite telling Brits to follow social distancing orders.
Speaking at his daily briefing on the coronavirus outbreak in the UK the Prime Minister stressed once again the importance of Brits to 'socially distance'.
But when asked about seeing his own mum on Mothering Sunday he said he 'hoped he would see her'.
However he later appeared to backtrack on his statement made amid criticism of his contradictory advice, with claiming Boris Johnson said he would 'Skype' his mum.
It comes as he ordered pubs, clubs, restaurants and other socialising venues nationwide to close tonight as the coronavirus death toll hit 177 in the UK.
Mr Johnson ordered the businesses across the UK to close from tonight, and urged people not to go out for one last Friday night out.
Then, asked whether people should visit their mum this Mother's Day on Sunday - and what his own plans were - the PM said: “As for Mother’s Day look i think my advice would be that people should really think very carefully about, irrespective of whether visiting their mothers, of visiting any elderly person who may be in a vulnerable group.
"It doesn’t matter necessarily whether they’re over 70. The issue is whether they are in one of the vulnerable groups.
"Think very carefully about the risk of transmission of the virus and follow the advice, look at the medical advice.
"Our advice is that elderly people, people with serious underlying health conditions, people in the later stages of pregnancy - you have to be careful about the transmission of the virus.”
The PM then appeared to muddy the official message by adding that he still hoped to see his own mother on Mother's Day.
His mother, Charlotte Johnson Wahl, is 77 - placing her squarely in the age group officially being described as vulnerable and being asked to practise self-isolation and social-distancing measures.
Mr Johnson said of his plans with his mum: “And I am regular contact with all members of my family, but I will be working very hard on Sunday - I can tell you that much.
"I’ll certainly be sending her my very best wishes and hope to get to see her.”
It was later reported that Mr Johnson had clarified that he intended to see his mother 'via Skype.'
The comments came after the dramatic announcement in the daily Downing Street briefing tonight.
Mr Johnson said: “Following agreement between all the four nations of the UK, we are collectively telling - telling - cafes, bars, pubs restaurants to close tonight as soon as they reasonably can and not to open tomorrow.
“To be clear, they can continue to provide take-out services. We’re also telling nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres to close on the timescale.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced a package of support for businesses and workers aimed at protecting jobs, saying laid-off workers would be paid 80% of their salary.
He tonight announced the “coronavirus job retention scheme” to help businesses with the crisis.
Government grants will cover 80% of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 a month amid fears businesses will fold and workers lose income during the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Any employer in the country, small or large, charitable or non profit, will be eligible for the scheme,” Mr Sunak said.
The grant will be provided through HMRC and there is “no limit” on the amount of money payable through the scheme.
