Coronavirus: Sheffield MP Louise Haigh says she is stopping shaking hands with people

The MP told BBC Radio 5 Live listeners that from this morning, she would no longer be greeting people with a handshake.

The Sheffield Heeley MP told presenter Emma Barnett: “I have decided as of today, I’m not going to be shaking hands.

“I do wash my hands repeatedly, but travelling around London in particular on the public transport network, we are exposed to a huge amount of germs and bacteria.

“We do need to take whatever precautions are necessary.”

Elbow bumping and tapping feet together have been suggested as alternatives to hand shaking as coronavirus fears grip the globe.

The Government is urging people to wash their hands as frequently as possible, for 20 seconds each time in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.