Relaxing two-metre rule is ‘reasonable political choice’
Scientific adviser makes claim days before result of review
A review into the two-metre social distancing rule will conclude within the coming days, as a government scientific adviser claimed it is now a “reasonable political decision” to relax the measure and accelerate school openings.
Boris Johnson, who commissioned the review earlier in June, hinted on Friday the government could alter the coronavirus advice to one metre – raising hopes in the hospitality sector after warnings many business will be unable to reopen under two-metre restrictions.
Speaking to the BBC, the culture secretary Oliver Dowden said the government’s review will be
“concluding shortly, within the coming days” and, crucially, ahead of the anticipated reopening of pubs, bars and restaurants and other businesses on 4 July.
The remarks come after the Joint Biosecurity Centre reduced the UK’s official Covid-19 alert level from four to three, signalling that transmission of the disease is no longer regarded as “high”. The move was jointly approved by the chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Professor Calum Semple, one of the experts advising the government on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was now reasonable to start reopening businesses with other precautions in place.
“It’s my thinking in my professional opinion, rather than a Sage opinion, science is rarely clear cut,” he said. “Two metres is safer than one metre, but when the absolute numbers throughout the country are sustained and low that’s when people can afford to take the difficult decisions to start opening up society.”
He continued: “The reason that I changed my mind now, whereas I was of a very different opinion three weeks ago, is now that we are in a position where there are low levels and sustained low levels of transmission throughout the country.
“I’m still saying that two metres is safer than one, but in my opinion it is now a reasonable political decision to relax these rules, perhaps accelerate school opening and start opening up other parts of the economy where it becomes harder to maintain the two-metre rule and where you might envisage going down to one metre with various caveats and other precautions.”
Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of the UKHospitality, which represents bars, nightclubs, coffee shops and leisure venues, also said it was quite evident the “science is not clear cut and straightforward” on the issue.
“I think it’s really important that as well as looking at the public health debate we take into account the socioeconomic context: the impact on mental health and wellbeing for 2.8 million people in hospitality who are currently on furlough who don’t know whether they’ve got a job, don’t know when they can come back to work.”
She also warned that around a quarter of our pubs and restaurants would be unable to ropen under the existing two-metre rule and moving to one metre was the difference “between viability and not being able to survive”.
“At two metres those businesses will be operating at just 30 per cent of their normal revenues – well below break-even and we will see jobs considerably lost,” she said. “At one-metre social distancing they are operating at 70 per cent – they are at break-even, they are able to stand on their own two feet.”
According to The Times, guidance drawn up by the hospitality sector and ministers will encourage pubgoers to order drinks using apps instead of going to the bar, as they are patrolled to ensure social distancing is maintained.