Boris Johnson has advised sons and daughters to keep away from their mum and grandmother this Mother's Day amid the coronavirus crisis.
The Prime Minister has halted the traditional event which sees children visit the beloved women in their lives to show their gratitude.
In an open letter the Prime Minister writes: " This Mothering Sunday the single best present that we can give – we who owe our mothers so much – is to spare them the risk of catching a very dangerous disease.
“That means staying away.”
He continued: "Mother’s Day is a day when we celebrate the sacrifice and the effort of those who gave us life, and across the country I know that millions of people will have been preparing to do something special.
“Not just a card, not just flowers. I know that everyone’s strongest instinct is to go and see their mothers in person, to have a meal together, to show them how much you love them.”
Mr Johnson urges everyone to make contact by phone, video call or Skype.
Because if your mother is elderly or vulnerable, then I am afraid all the statistics show that she is much more likely to die from coronavirus.
“We cannot disguise or sugarcoat the threat.”
Mr Johnson warns that the outbreak in the UK is now only two or three weeks behind Italy where dying patients have to be looked after in hospital corridors.
He said: “The Italians have a superb health care system. And yet their doctors and nurses have been completely overwhelmed.
“Unless we act together, unless we make the heroic and collective national effort, it is all too likely our NHS will be overwhelmed.”
Coronavirus figures soared to 5,018 as 233 people have now died from the deadly virus.
Scotland confirmed a seventh victim as figures rose to 373 confirmed cases.
