2-metre rule RELAXED at work & Gov advice says firms only need to enforce it ‘where possible’
THE controversial two-metre social distancing rule appears to have been relaxed after official government guidance told firms they must only follow it “where possible”.
It gives employers wriggle room on operating the two-metre social distancing - amid fears the previous strict guidance was deterring workplaces and shopfloors from reopening.
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The tweaks offers hope to the hospitality industry by signalling that the Government is poised to relax the social distancing rules further in time for pubs and restaurants to reopen from July 4.
The updated guidance advises companies to take “all reasonable steps” to maintain two-metre distancing in workplaces and shopfloors.
But it has watered down the language on previous guidance that two-metres must be maintained at all times, saying it must now only be maintained “where possible”.
The news comes as:
- The Culture Secretary suggested last night that gyms, leisure centres and five-a-side footie may be able to return from July 4
- Pubs and restaurants are also due to go back from the start of next month, although nothing has yet been confirmed
- French President Macron is due to visit the UK today to celebrate the resistance anniversary
The official government guidance suggests six measures to mitigate the risk where two-metres cannot be maintained, including limiting contact time to “as short as possible”, seating staff “back-to-back or side-to-side” and staggering arrival and departure times.
The Department for Business insisted there had been no major changes to the guidance and it remained the case that if employers cannot meet the 2m social distancing requirement then they should consider other mitigating actions.
Yesterday the boss of the UK's largest zoo said the two-metre distancing rules is threatening the future of the industry.
Dr Dominique Tropeano, of Colchester Zoo, said that in a normal summer season the Essex attraction could expect 5,000 to 6,000 visitors per day. But the number is currently limited to around 2,000 to comply with social distancing guidelines, he said.
Meanwhile a YouGov survey found a half of UK businesses plan to lay off staff within three months of the furlough scheme ending.
Some 31 per cent of business leaders said a fifth or more of their staff could go.
Only a third of firms said they are confident they will not have to get rid of anyone.
Meanwhile another poll by Ipsos MORI showed two in five employees have concerns about their job security.
Businesses are worried they cannot reopen fully from July 4 thanks to the 2m rule.
Pubs and restaurants will only be able to open partially and may not take enough to stay afloat.
Millions of jobs could be at risk if the 2m rule stays in place, experts have warned.
Boris Johnson is currently overseeing a review of the 2m rule, with the aim to have it completed by the next review date.
He has said before he wants to cut it when it's safe to do so, but has issued no suggestion of when that might be.
The review will take into account advice from scientists, but it will not be "led by" the evidence.
And it will also look at the impact of the rule on the economy, too.
The rule will be cut by September to allow all kids to return to school, an MP suggested this morning.
Geoffrey Clifton Brown told the BBC's Today programme he was sure that the change would be made over the summer.
In other countries the distance is 1.5m or even one metre.
But scientists here think 2m is safest.
However, the UK's Chief Scientist Adviser Patrick Vallance said earlier this week it was not a strict rule.
He said the social distancing rule was "not an absolute cut-off that never changes."
And he added: "There are times in which this can be changed and that evidence of course can then be the basis of a policy decision on what the right distance is that should be mandated or put forward as the rule to follow."
He said if a relaxed version of the rule can be used in combination with other measures such as face coverings, it would be safer if infection rates continued to fall.
The PM acknowledged the far-reaching effects of relaxing the social distancing rule.
He said: "I am all too aware the two-metre rule has big implications for schools and many other sectors.
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"I absolutely hear those concerns, I will do everything in my power to get us back to normal as soon as possible.
"We must proceed carefully."
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