Parents are being 'misinformed' by 'fake' reports their child would go to hospital alone if they got coronavirus.
Following fears from mums on social media that they would be separated from their child if they fell ill with the virus This Morning health expert, Doctor Ranj Singh took to Instagram to set the record straight.
The Strictly Come Dancing star said: "Current routine practice and guidance in this country is that if your child has signs and symptoms of coronavirus then a parent or carer can be with them and should be with them.
"You may have to take extra precautions, but that's the routine practice. There needs to be a really, really, really good reason for a family not to be able to be with their child especially in that sort of situation. So it needs to be in exceptional circumstances."
His post comes after the death of 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab in London this week sparked panic among some parents after it was reported he died without his family by his side.
However, Dr Ranj urged people not to panic and to "be careful" about what they read in the news.
He said: "We don't know what the situation was and that's why I should stress that is the exception, not the rule. Please don't panic. Please be careful what you're reading and seeing in the news. And as I said my thoughts go out to his family."
Last week Dr Ranj had again taken to Instagram and television to say people were being 'duped' by rumours children were being left alone, with even celebrity mums sharing the 'fake' information.
Mum-of-five, former pop star Kerry Katona urged people to stay home on her Instagram page.
She said: "Biggest wake up call ever. If your child gets this virus, they're going to hospital alone in a van with people they don't know to be with people they don't know. You will be at home without them in their time of need. Think about it, stay in."
But Dr Ranj posted on to his own social media and even went on to This Morning to tell parents they were being "duped" over the issue.
