Pubs, restaurants and schools ‘could apply 1-metre rule’

PUBS, restaurants and schools may be allowed to implement a one-metre physical distancing rule when they reopen under plans being discussed within Government.

Ministers will examine whether the current 2m social distancing rule could be relaxed for certain sectors where it would be difficult to apply.

It comes after some Cabinet ministers suggested Ireland should follow other European countries in reducing the distancing rule to 1m at last Friday’s cabinet meeting.

The Taoiseach moved yesterday to insist that there was no change in the advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to maintain a physical distance of 2m from other people.

However, a senior government source said, as the country reopens, it will be hard to apply one universal rule to all sectors.

“You could provide sector-by-sector guidance that recognises 2m in some sectors isn’t operable,” they said.

Another government source said: “This issue is live for the public and businesses. There is a whole gamut of things kept under constant review.”

Professor Mary Horgan, an infectious disease expert and President of the Royal College of Physicians, suggested that with emerging evidence that the disease does not impact young people as badly, there could be an argument for relaxing the 2m distance rule in schools.

“It really is absolutely keeping a hawk eye on the evidence that’s out there and aligning to what guidelines within Europe, the WHO, and learning from other countries who are progressing things from a social distance point of view.

“Those things make a big difference if you are running a business or a school or a university.

“People were being super cautious in the beginning... but if there is new evidence that 2m can be reduced, it needs to be critically looked at again in context of keeping the population safe.”

The Restaurants Association of Ireland said reducing the rule to 1m would be a “game-changer” for the industry as it prepares to reopen later in the summer.

The current 2m rule is based on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team which cites the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which recommends 2m.

But the ECDC issued guidance to the aviation industry which recommended implementing physical distancing of 1.5m between individuals.

However Dr Mary Favier, President of the Irish College of Practitioners, who is also a member of Nphet, warned last night: “If social distancing is not maintained at two metres it is a serious concern that we will enter a second phase peak of Covid infection requiring heightened not lessened restrictions.” Dr Tony Holohan said on Friday that he would not “rule out” a review of the 2m rule.