HSE boss Paul Reid wants no hugs for Christmas.
The health agency boss is urging people to refrain from hugging when they meet loved ones to help keep the spread of Covid under control over the coming month.
It is a case of Bah ‘hug’bug from Mr Reid as he believes that hugging poses “an extreme risk” when people meet.
His advice will come as a bitter disappointment to the millions of people hoping to embrace their loved ones as lockdown eases for Christmas.
Mr Reid was speaking at the HSE’s weekly operational briefing at St Steven’s Hospital in Dublin on Thursday afternoon.
He said: “For this week as restaurants and gastro pubs reopen, it is a great opportunity for people to meet with friends and family, it gives people some relief after what has been a challenging few weeks and very challenging year.
“Equally, we are encouraging everybody as you do meet up, keep your heightened level of guard at all stages.
“It’s not just meeting in restaurants but it’s about people travelling to restaurants and leaving together when people’s guard can understandably drop maybe after a glass or two of wine.
“Or maybe as people leave each other and may not see each for Christmas, our natural inkling is to hug each other and wish each other happy Christmas, which we know in the current environment is an extreme risk.”
The country is was given some much needed relief after Level Five restrictions were eased this week ahead of the Christmas period.
Retailers across the country welcomed customers back this week following six weeks of closure due to strict public health measures implemented.
Meanwhile pubs that serve food restaurants will be allowed to open their doors once again tomorrow as further restrictions are eased.
