The
two-metre social distancing rule can be abandoned by businesses reopening after lockdown if they introduce other measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus, Government scientists have told ministers.
Following a political backlash against
the two-metre rule, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) published a paper on Friday which set out protocols – such as regular breaks, and getting workers to sit side by side – that would make it much safer for people to be within one metre of each other.
Over the past few days, officials have begun discreetly contacting business groups to ask whether they would object to it being watered down, The Telegraph understands.
Downing Street is preparing to make a public announcement
formally dropping the blanket two-metre rule after infections fall further, possibly within days.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS)
revealed on Friday that infection in the community had dropped to just 0.06 per cent, while 12 areas saw no new cases last week. The figures suggest just one in 1,600 people have coronavirus, down from one in 1,000 in a week.
The move on the two-metre rule has come amid growing Government concern over
the state of the economy. Figures released on Friday showed the UK economy
suffered its worst-ever monthly collapse in April as the virus lockdown crushed GDP by more than 20 per cent.
Government scientists have told ministers it is up to businesses to carry out their own risk assessments about how they can operate safely as non-essential shops in England
prepare to reopen on Monday.
Their research shows that a distance of one metre side by side, common in most offices, is as safe as facing someone two metres away.
On Friday,
Boris Johnson said the Government was "working with the scientists" on when the two metre rule can be axed, adding: "What we're looking for is the moment when we've got the numbers... down so far that we can really say that the two-metre rule is no longer necessary.
"We are doing a review right now and obviously, as we make further progress, I hope to say more."
It came as Sage set out how businesses could mitigate risks in situations in which two-metre face-to-face distancing cannot be achieved.
The papers, released by its environmental and modelling group, show that a distance of two metres is safer than one in reducing the risk of virus transmission.
The research suggests that with the right safety measures – including good ventilation, regular breaks, wearing of masks and the right positioning of staff so they do not directly face each other – risks can be significantly reduced.
Earlier this month,
a major Lancet study found the risk of infection is 1.3 per cent at two metres or 2.6 per cent at one metre.
But the new research says this does not consider the positioning of the person – meaning the way they are facing – or how the virus is likely to be transmitted.
When people are at close range and face to face, transmission is most likely to be through respiratory droplets, but aerosol transmission of fine particles can carry further depending on ventilation.
The new research says that sitting within one metre of a person side by side or back to back is as safe as facing a person at two metres when indoors.
"When people are side to side or behind one another, risk is via aerosols and so is determined by the influence of ventilation; at one metre the exposure risks would be similar to two metres when face to face in an indoor environment," it says.
One business source said civil servants had been in touch in recent days asking if they would "kick up a fuss" if the Government cut the distance to one metre.
Government sources confirmed the calls had taken place but they said they were part of the usual liaison with business groups, adding that "there is always business stakeholder engagement, asking 'just how badly do you feel about this' to gauge reaction."
Boris Johnson has said 'we are doing a review right now' CREDIT: AFP
Mr Johnson has said the overall rate of infections and rates of new hospital admissions would be key to the decision.
On Friday, the Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, became the first Cabinet minister to admit publicly
that he "would like" to see the two-metre social distancing rule relaxed.
He said more tourism businesses would remain viable if the two-metre social distancing rule was halved, adding: "As soon as it is possible to do so with
the 'R' number suppressed, I would like to see it move to one metre.
"I think, to get back to something to near normal in the way that we conduct our lives and our businesses, as we see the virus recede – and we've seen this happen without any bad consequences in other European countries – we should move to one metre when the time is right."
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, and Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, are all said to be pushing Mr Johnson privately for the change.
Meanwhile, the UK tourism industry has warned that the two-metre rule risks turning holiday hotspots into ghost towns.
Tourism Alliance, which represents more than 200,000 businesses, said the current guidance would lead to "a wave of business closures and redundancies".
