Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid rejected her co host Adil Ray's attempt at a hug on Monday, as lockdown measured loosened meaning we can now hug one another.
Discussing how safe it was to hug with Dr Hilary Jones, Adil stood up and opened his arms, ready to embrace Susanna.
But she was not keen and remained sitting, rejecting Adil, who was forced to go and sit back down.
Susanna apologised and explained she wanted to save her hugs for her most loved ones, including her mother, and not risk passing on any infections to her.
Approaching Susanna with his arms wide, Adil said: "Let me just, come on! I haven't seen you in such a long time!"
Susanna squirmed: "What did Dr Hilary say? I am still in the mood for a virtual hug!"
Dr Hilary added: "Lots of people are still nervous for a hug!"
Later, Susanna said to Adil: "Apologies, I am just protecting you first of all, who knows what I might have, but secondly if we ration or hugs you can hug more important people."
He quipped back: "Susanna let's be honest if there was no pandemic you would still not hug people!"
And Adil asked once again later on in the show to see if she had changed her mind, and she replied that they had been warned not to hug in the workplace.
Dr Hilary explained: "Everyone is desperate to hug, I think it's important to be selective, not to hug all and sundry but to hug people most close to you, that you have been really keen to hug."
Susanna said: "Well we have already been hugging the ones most close to us, but ones outside of that."
Dr Hilary continued: "It's important to ask them, have they got any symptoms? Have they been exposed to anyone else in recent time? Have they been vaccinated?"
"You need them to do a health questionnaire first!" joked Susanna.
Dr Hilary continued: "And do they want to hug? Because a lot of people still don't want hugs! Ask them if they want to hug, get consent first, and then by all means hug.
"But I would still wear a mask, I would turn your head away and not talk to them whilst you're hugging them, because it's aerosol contact."
"What have we become?" asked Susanna.
One viewer tweeted: "Well that attempt to hug Susannah failed miserably Adil. Better luck next time!"
"I can live without the hugs tbh @GMB #GMB," remarked another.
"Rationing your hugs is such a great idea! Be mindful," added another.
But others added: "Absolutely pathetic,hug how you want # GMB " and: "Dr Hilary just so ya know I’m out here touching everyone today #gmb I’m just a little hug bug".
* Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV at 6am
