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Coronavirus: Will the 2m social distancing rule be reduced and does it make sense? Credits: Social Media
By Faye Dixon

Coronavirus: Will the 2m social distancing rule be reduced and does it make sense?

By Faye Dixon

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has discussed possible changes to the UK’s two metre social distancing rule.

Today, the matter was discussed during Prime Minister’s Questions. The questions took place in the House of Commons. Leader of the SNP Ian Blackford questioned Mr Johnson.

Mr Blackford said: “This has been a complete shambles. Too little. Too late. We cannot risk ignoring the experts once again. Can the Prime Minister confirm what scientific papers he has read on the two metre social distance rule?”

Mr Johnson claimed he has read “many papers” on the social distancing rule.

He responded: “I think members across the House of Commons will want to understand that I believe that those measures (the two metre rule) need now to be kept under review.

“As we get the incidents down, working together, I wan’t to make sure that we keep that two metre rule under constant review.”

A sign notifies passers by of the 2 meter social distancing measures in place, as people exercise in Phoenix Park in Dublin, on March 25, 2020, after Ireland introduced measures to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. - Ireland's prime minister Leo Varadkar on Tuesday announced that all non-essential businesses will shut from midnight as part of the country's latest measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. "These are unprecedented actions to respond to an unprecedented emergency," he said, adding the measures would remain in place until at least April 19. (Photo by PAUL FAITH / AFP) (Photo by PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images)
A sign notifies passers by of the 2 meter social distancing measures in place, as people exercise in Phoenix Park in Dublin, on March 25, 2020, after Ireland introduced measures to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. – Ireland’s prime minister Leo Varadkar on Tuesday announced that all non-essential businesses will shut from midnight as part of the country’s latest measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. “These are unprecedented actions to respond to an unprecedented emergency,” he said, adding the measures would remain in place until at least April 19. (Photo by PAUL FAITH / AFP) (Photo by PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images)

Following this, Mr Blackford discussed the current experts advice. He mentioned a report by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) which claims being exposed to COVID-19 “for six seconds at one metre is the same as being exposed for one minute at two metres.”

Boris replied: “As the incidents of the disease come down, as I think members of SAGE would confirm, the statistical likelihood of becoming infected, no matter how close or far you are from somebody who may or may not have coronavirus, goes down.”

Why 2m for the social distancing rule?

The distancing measures from experts such as the World Health Organisation and SAGE can be traced back to research in the 1930s.

The distance information is based on previous research into respiratory viruses. Scientists had previously found that droplets from coughs or sneezes evaporate or fall to the ground within one or two metres. Therefore, proximity and surface contact are considered primary transmission routes for covid-19. 

The governments scientific advisers have been reviewing this guidance throughout the UK’s lockdown. 

At the moment, the World Health Organisation states that keeping a distance of 1 metre is safe. However, despite this, Boris Johnson and his advisors have chosen not to reduce the original distance set in the social distancing rules yet.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: People maintain social distancing while standing in line to enter a Trader Joe's, along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as the coronavirus pandemic continues on March 25, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stay at home order for Californias 40 million residents, with exceptions for essential activities, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 25: People maintain social distancing while standing in line to enter a Trader Joe’s, along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as the coronavirus pandemic continues on March 25, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stay at home order for Californias 40 million residents, with exceptions for essential activities, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

What have other countries done?

Throughout the pandemic, different countries have chosen different distances for their guidance. In addition, some have reduced theirs over time.

Currently, those following a one metre distance rule include China, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Lithuania and Singapore. Australia, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands and Portugal follow 1.5m. Those who have been following a two metre distance are the UK, Spain and Canada, while the US has set the gap at 1.8m.

There is increasing speculation that the 2m rule could be relaxed in the UK soon, but debate continues to rage over whether that is a good or bad idea.