Call: Halve two-metre safety rule
Former chancellor Norman Lamont yesterday backed calls for the two-metre social distance to be halved to help revive the economy.
He urged Boris Johnson to review rules before nonessential shops reopen in two weeks’ time in England.
He pointed to guidance by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies that the coronavirus droplet exposure and infection risk “falls sharply by 1.5m”.
Lord Lamont, who served as chancellor between 1990 and 1993, went further in calling for the current distance of two metres to be reduced to one metre to help the hospitality sector.
He said: “I’m not for one minute saying the government should ignore medical and scientific recommendation. However, I believe it’s urgently vital, if you would like a single measure that might assist the hospitality sector, it will be a discount within the social distancing from two metres to one metre.”
Greg Clark, chairman of the Commons Science Committee, also urged the prime minister to reduce the social distancing.
He said: “The difference between two metres and one-and-a-half may seem small but it can be the difference between people being able to go to work and losing their jobs.”
Mr Johnson said on Thursday that to control the virus people need to “stay two metres apart from those who you do not live with”. The World Health Organisation, France and Italy say people should keep a distance of one metre, Germany says one-and-ahalf and Spain two metres.
Club owner, music promoter and Sunday Post columnist Donald MacLeod is also urging a reduction to the two-metre rule.
In his column today, he says smaller bars and restaurants will not survive if the rule stays in place.