Dr Hilary Jones warned students at university that they must put their partying on hold as the UK attempts to control the spread of coronavirus.
The Good Morning Britain host was clear with his advice that isolating properly now ‘for the time being’ is advised, because mixing with other people is ‘not a great idea’.
Dr Hilary spoke to hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard as concerns over what Christmas will look like continue to mount.
It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock refuses to rule out forcing university students to stay on campus over the festive period.
This means that students would be banned from visiting family over Christmas because they could potentially bring Covid-19 with them.
The doctor said: “It’s a balance of mental health, a balance of the need to go out into the real world and becoming a mature student and mixing with other people.
“But mixing right now is not a great idea.
“If you adopt the principle that universities are there to learn and to study, there is no reason you can’t do that in quite a lonely way for the time being.
“We’re talking about a temporary period, the partying can come later, but right now it’s not a good time to party and mix with other people. We just have to accept that.”
Students in Scotland are already being forced to self-isolate after an outbreak at a university, while at Manchester Metropolitan University, students are self isolating after a handful of cases were confirmed at a block of flats at Birley Halls following a ‘100 strong’ party.
Dr Hilary said: “If you look at the figures they are quite alarming, large numbers of people have tested positive, hundreds are having to self-isolate.
“Even your parents’ house is another household if you are living in digs or student accommodation.
“If we are going to get a handle on this we must be strict and disciplined.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
