Government unlikely to cut two-metre distancing for now

The government is unlikely to halve the physical distancing guidelines in the short-term, despite calls from ministers.
Government unlikely to cut two-metre distancing for now

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

The government is unlikely to halve the physical distancing guidelines in the short-term, despite calls from ministers.

Friday's cabinet meeting featured what sources called "a proper ding dong" on whether Ireland could move to World Health Organisation advice that one metre distance be kept between people instead of the current two metre guidance.

Cabinet members felt that one metre would allow restaurants and schools more latitude to open in the coming months. The Restaurants Association of Ireland said the alteration in guidance would be "a game changer" for their members.

It is understood that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar offered ministers a meeting with NPHET to discuss the distance, a meeting which will be held this week.

However, the Taoiseach on Saturday poured cold water on the idea of changing the guidelines while Health Minister Simon Harris told RTÉ 2FM that the rule is "constantly under review but is important to stick to for now". Sources say there is little appetite to stray from public health advice at this time, with new cases of Coronavirus being reported daily.

Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said he does not yet believe that the international guidance on the virus has changed to the extent which would mean a halving of the guidelines.

I understand the impatience to end this but if we can keep the low level of infection, we can progress through the road map.

Dr Holohan said two metres is "not a rule and not a magic thing on its own" but that it is the current strong guidance. He said the issue is under constant review and confirmed that he will be briefing ministers, more than half of whom are believed to be pushing for the guidance to be changed, on the issue. NPHET will meet this Thursday, Dr Holohan said.

The assistant secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach Liz Canavan said there has been "much speculation" about whether Ireland can either halve its social distancing requirements or move through the phased road map quicker than anticipated. She said such decisions are a "risk-based approach" and said that two metres physical distancing is NPHET advice and is there to save lives.

That advice was echoed by WHO Special Envoy on Covid-19 Dr David Nabarro, who told RTÉ Radio's Today Show that the two-metre rule "keeps you safe 99% of the time".

"The WHO and others have said the best distance to keep away from people if you want to avoid inhaling a droplet is two metres. That's because that will keep you safe 99% of the time but you can greatly reduce risk even at one metre because 70% of the droplets will stick within one metre."

Dr Nabarro said that if a person must get closer than that, they should try to remain at least a metre away. He said that ventilation will be a key factor in deciding what to reopen and when, citing South Korea's rise in cases after reopening its nightclubs.

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