Calls for two-metre social distancing rule to be relaxed intensify

Former chancellor Norman Lamont and ex-environment secretary Theresa Villiers are the latest big names to suggest the recommended separation be reduced in line with other countries to save jobs.

Sheffield health boss raises fears over easing of lockdown measures

The two metre social distancing required in the UK is twice that recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and more than the one-metre stipulated in Italy and 1.5 metres in Germany and Austria.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Lamont said halving the rule to one metre was ‘the single most important measure we must take’ to avoid ‘devastating mass unemployment’.

In his column, Mr Lamont cites British Beer and Pub Association figures showing that with the current two metre rule only ‘20 to 30 per cent of premises will be able to open at a sustainable level’, whereas at one metre that rises to 70 per cent.

Coronavirus death toll rises again in Sheffield, as 85 more die in England

"The onus is on the (Government's) advisers to explain why it is that, while Britons must stay two metres apart, the World Health Organisation recommends one metre - as do many other European countries, acting on their scientists' advice,” he added.

Ms Villiers, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour on Sunday, warned: “Unless we ease the two metre rule, the hospitality sector is likely to stay closed.”

Their comments come days after Conservative MP Greg Clark, who chairs the Commons Science and Technology Committee, told The Daily Telegraph he had written to Boris Johnson urging him to relax the two-metre rule.

All the Meadowhall shops that can reopen in June - and the ones still banned

Citing a paper from the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) which says it may be possible to "enable distancing at less than two metres" in certain areas, Mr Clark said "the difference between two metres and 1.5 metres may seem small but it can be the difference between people being able to go to work and losing their jobs".

Mr Johnson announced last week that he had asked members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to review whether the two-metre distance could be reduced.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to The Star website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor