During Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) Ian Blackford SNP Westminster leader, criticised Boris Johnson of failing to follow scientific advice over the two-metre rule.
The Cabinet are currently reviewing the two-metre rule to potentially reduce it to one metre. But Blackford warned the public are growing tired and mistrust the government.
Johnson furiously hit back and shamed Blackford and immediately dismantled his accusation as “myth making.”
Johnson blasted, “The people of this country are overwhelmingly following the guidance that this Government gives.
“And tomorrow, the House will be hearing more about what’s happening with NHS test and trace.
“They will find an extraordinary degree of natural compliance, natural understanding of the British people.
“In spite of all the obscurantism and myth-making that we’ve heard from the parties opposite.”
Blackford told the Commons, “We know that the Cabinet has discussed reducing the two-metre social distancing rule but that’s not the experts’ advice right now.
“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 Prime Minister hit back at Blackford, and said, “There are all sorts of views about the two-metre rule, he’s absolutely correct in what he says about the Sage advice.
“But 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.”
Johnson added, “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.”
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