Out-of-step two-metre social distancing rule could be reduced, health chief admits

THE two-metre rule may be reduced, Public Health England’s medical director has said, after accepting that Britain is an outlier in social distancing.

Prof Yvonne Doyle told the Commons science and technology committee that the distance would be “subject of continued investigation” and said the rule was far more important for inside than outside.

Her comments came after Greg Clark, the committee chairman, listed a number of countries that have distancing between one and 1.5 metres. The World Health Organisation recommends just one metre.

The distance is important as the country moves towards the relaxation of lockdown restrictions as it would allow more businesses to return to normal. Prof Doyle said: “It’s a learning experience internationally and we are aware of the international differences and I’m sure this will be the subject of continued investigation as to whether two metres is actually necessary, or whether that can be reduced further.

“Two metres, certainly for a prolonged period of time indoors, would seem to be a precautionary measure at the moment.

“We do know that it is likely that the risk to the population is less outdoors and this is one of the reasons why people are encouraged to take more exercise now.”

Catherine Noakes, a professor of environmental engineering for buildings at the University of Leeds and a member of the Sage scientific advisory group, told the committee the risk may be less if people were sitting alongside each other or back-to-back. She said there had only been one recorded incidence of anyone being infected outside, which was through a close conversation between two people.

“As we learn more we may be able to adjust that. We already have stated that if people are back-to-back or to the side the risk is lower. If you walk past someone at one metre the risks are very, very small.”

Mr Clark, told The Daily Telegraph South Korea, Hong Kong and many European countries had adopted a shorter rule. “Science is international, the virus does not respect the boundaries, and so there seems to be no reason in principle why we should take a different approach to elsewhere,” he said.

Yessterday evening, Mr Clark wrote to Sir Patrick Vallance, the Chief Scientific Adviser, asking to see the evidence behind the two-metre rule.

‘If people are to the side, the risk is lower. If you walk past someone at one metre, the risks are very small’