The prime minister continued to shake hands even as some scientists advising the government on its coronavirus response were calling for the practice to be halted, it has emerged.
Scientists were calling for an end to hugging and handshakes in early March, newly-released papers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) shows.
On 3 March, the SPI-B group of behavioural scientists said the directive would have sent an important signal about the need for good hand hygiene in stopping the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
That same day, Boris Johnson told a Downing Street news conference that he was continuing to shake the hands of people he met.
Later that week, the PM made a point of shaking hands with This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield, even though the presenter kept his hands to his sides when he interviewed Mr Johnson for the ITV show.
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Mr Johnson was also pictured shaking hands with England rugby captain Owen Farrell at Twickenham.
He was then photographed shaking hands with boxer Anthony Joshua on 9 March, during the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
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Asked about the contents of the paper, the PM's spokesman said that Mr Johnson would not have been aware at the time of the document, which did not at that point represent the considered view of SAGE.
"The PM wouldn't have seen that advice," the spokesman said.
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