Two metre social distancing rule could be reduced, Boris Johnson indicates

He said: 'As we drive this disease down, as we get the incidence down, working together, I want to make sure we keep that two-metre rule under constant review.'

Boris Johnson has told MPs that the rule about people keeping two metres away from each other to maintain social distancing is ‘under review’.

Speaking during Prime Ministers’ Questions, he said that as the disease became less prevalent, the risk of contracting it reduced.

Responding to SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, Mr Johnson said: ‘I believe that those measures, the two-metre rule, need now be kept under review.

‘As we drive this disease down, as we get the incidence down, working together, I want to make sure we keep that two-metre rule under constant review.’

SNP MP Ian Blackford had asked him: ‘We know that the cabinet has discussed reducing the two metre social distancing rule, but that’s not the experts’ advice right now.

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‘SAGE reported that being exposed to the virus for six seconds at one metre is the same as being exposed for one minute at two metres. That is a significant increase in risk.

‘The last time Professor Whitty was allowed to attend the daily press briefing, he stressed the two metre rule was going to be necessary for as long as the pandemic continues.

‘People are losing confidence in this government. A U-turn on schools, a shambolic roll-out of quarantine measures and now looking to reduce the two metres rule far too soon. 

‘Will the Prime Minister continue to ignore the experts or will he start following the advice of those who have actually read the scientific papers?’

Boris Johnson responded: ‘The people of this country are overwhelmingly following the guidance this government gives. Tomorrow, the House will be hearing more about what has happened with NHS Test and Trace and they will find an extraordinary degree of natural compliance and natural understanding by the British people.

‘In spite of all the obscurantism and the myth making we’ve heard from the parties opposite, I can say there are all sorts of views about the two metre rule, he’s absolutely correct in what he says about the SAGE advice. 

‘Clearly, as the incidence of the disease comes down, as I think members of SAGE would confirm, the statistical likelihood of being infected, no matter how close or far you are from somebody who may or may not have coronavirus, goes down.’

So far during the pandemic, the public have been told to stay two metres apart, in order to stop the spread of coronavirus. 

However, cabinet ministers Alok Sharma, Gavin Williamson and Grant Shapps are said to be behind a proposal to reduce the distancing guidelines, which could kickstart a reopening of the country. 

A one metre rule could be particularly helpful in the hospitality industry, with some pubs and restaurants calling for the rule to be relaxed. 

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