Two-metre rule ‘did not go far enough’

THE two-metre Covid rule was insufficient to protect against catching the virus, scientists warned yesterday.

They said the ‘random’ distance was chosen from a ‘risk continuum’ and should be boosted by extra measures such as masks.

Engineers from the University of Cambridge used computer modelling to analyse how droplets spread when people cough.

They found that in the absence of masks, an individual with coronavirus could infect another person standing two metres away – even when they are both outdoors.

The scientists also discovered that individual coughs vary widely, and that the ‘safe’ distance could have been set at anywhere between one to three meters, or even more.

Published in the journal Physics of Fluids, their findings suggest that social distancing was not an effective mitigation measure on its own and they underline the continued importance of vaccination, ventilation and masks throughout the winter months.

The researchers say that while the twometre rule made for an effective and easy-to-remember message for the public, it was not a mark of safety. Professor Epaminondas Mastorakos, who led the research, said: ‘We’re all desperate to see the back of this pandemic, but we strongly recommend that people keep wearing masks in indoor spaces such as offices, classrooms and shops.

‘There’s no good reason to expose yourself to this risk as long as the virus is with us.’

The Government first advised that people stay two metres apart in March 2020.

That June the rule changed to ‘one-metre plus’ if extra measures such as face masks were in place.

In July this year restrictions were further eased across England although masks are still encouraged in enclosed spaces.

Studies show masks block infected people from exhaling up to 80 per cent of the virus into the air and also protect wearers from inhaling up to 50 per cent of the particles.