Could we face 3-metre rule?

Experts urge Government to bring in dramatic social distancing measure

THE social distancing gap people must maintain could be increased to three metres in an emergency move to halt the spread of Covid-19.

Leading members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) want the measure in England raised from ‘one metre plus’ to ‘two metres plus’.

In practice this would change the limit to three metres – nearly 10ft.

The proposal was disclosed as Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned that the UK is now at ‘the worst point in the epidemic’.

The Scottish Government’s own Covid19 Advisory Group generally applies the advice from Sage and other sources of information to inform decisions taken in Scotland.

Professor Whitty, a member of Sage, said it was time to ‘double down’ on Covid curbs – including outdoor contact.

This is because the new, more infectious variant of coronavirus is ‘really pushing things in a way the old one was not able to’.

This ‘ makes every situation slightly more dangerous than before’ and the ‘probability of transmission [outdoors] had gone up,’ he added. The Daily Mail has been told that several members of Sage say the current lockdown needs to be even tougher than the first one in March last year.

The idea of a Chinese-style ban on people leaving their homes was even raised at one Sage meeting.

It followed ministerial fury that some people are using the existing right to daily exercise as an excuse to meet with friends for a coffee in the park. One source said: ‘If it means limiting people to a single one hour walk on their own once a week that is what we must do. We cannot let a few selfish idiots put the whole country in danger.’

In China, some families were locked in their homes for months.

It reflects mounting concern, shared by ministers, that the failure by some people to observe the current restrictions could see hospitals overwhelmed.

Increasing the social distancing rule to three metres is seen as one way of stopping the spread of the new variant of the virus.

Opponents say it would have little impact, cause more confusion and be a logistical nightmare.

Two- metre signs have been painted on pavements across the nation, with similar notices found in tens of thousands of shops, factories, offices and public places.

Changing them all would add to the soaring cost of fighting Covid.

But supporters claim the benefit in saving lives and protecting the NHS means that the move would be worth it.

The distance in England was set at two metres in March after experts said coronavirus was up to ten times more transmissible at one metre than at two.

But it was reduced to ‘one metre plus’ in July after the first lockdown mainly to make it easier for restaurants and cafes to reopen.

Boris Johnson said people could be just over one metre apart – but only if there was ‘risk mitigation’ by doing something else to reduce the risk of infection such as sitting side by side instead of face to face, or wearing a mask. Otherwise it had to be two metres.

The three other home nations have different versions of the two metre rule.

In Scotland people are advised to keep two metres apart; in Wales they are told to stay two metres apart unless it is not practical, with young children exempt; the gap in Northern Ireland came down to one metre but is now back up to two.

Asked about the ‘ two metreplus’ plan, a senior Government official said: ‘ The idea has been discussed but no decision has been taken.’