Leading health expert Professor Luke O'Neill has given Irish households a step-by-step guide for how to celebrate Christmas safely – with outdoor hugging allowed but time limits necessary.
Professor O'Neill, a top immunologist at Trinity College Dublin, has walked the public through Christmas Day, with a series of practical tips that will allow extended families to gather together in a safe manner.
He said a ban on hugging is "too extreme", but urged families to "wear masks, have a quick hug outdoors.
"Let's start with that. That's a low-risk activity," the Dubliner told Claire Byrne on RTE Radio.
Professor O'Neill also advised those visiting extended family to "bring your own dinner ware," and to organise the dinner in such a way that only one person is in the kitchen doing the serving.
While the virus specialist gave an update that many will see as very positive, he did caution that this year's festive period "won't be like any other Christmas ever."
"It's going to be tough, let's face it," said the Trinity lecturer.
"We can’t be having 10 hours in a stuffy room together, playing family games. That’s not going to work."
As well as offering advice on Christmas, Professor O'Neill also shared his excitement about many vaccine updates that have sparked hope around the world in recent weeks.
And he urged the public to embrace the vaccine once it gets approval from regulatory bodies, stressing the "independence" of these organisations when it comes to assessing the merits and risks of any vaccine.
"As soon as they give it the seal of approval, everyone should line up for it," he said.
Professor O'Neill has frequently been a voice of hope on the coronavirus pandemic, appearing on the Late Late Show and other programmes to inform the public about the latest Covid-19 developments – inside and outside his lab.
