When Two Become One

at

Um.

Terry Pattinson writes:

I was tested for Coronavirus in Dun Laoghaire [County Dublin]on Friday, May 15 and this leaflet (above) was handed to me. It recommends (twice!) keeping a distance of 1 metre (3 feet) from other people.

It amazes me that there has been no comment on the fact that the HSE has already printed and is distributing advice leaflets which state: ‘Keeping a distance of more than 1 metre (3 feet) from other people is recommended.’

Anyone?

Ministers to question Chief Medical Officer over two metre social distancing rule (RTÉ)

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27 thoughts on “When Two Become One

  1. Muchacho Gordo-Delgado

    This is aimed at certain DLR residents like Bonobo Hewson and Christy Burr, who are significantly smaller than normal people. Hence, 1m to them is the equivalent to 2m for most others.

  2. Clampers Outside

    What’s the problem exactly?

    “at least” v “more than” 1m… is that it?…. Seriously?

    Has the world gotten so infantile that this is seen as an issue?

    Jebus… >_<

    1. gallantman

      I think the ‘problem’ is that the HSE have unilaterally halved the recommended social distance from 2 to 1 metre

      1. V'ness

        I think the problem is that lads are making it up as they go along

        There has never been a consistent approach or policy in the HSE
        To anything
        They were hardly going to start now
        In the middle of a pandemic
        Like c’mon

  3. Clampers Outside

    Bit of a tangent….

    Anyone remember the ad on tele where the line “could you show me a metre?” is said as a man stretches out a bit of green hose….
    Not sure was if it was a farming ad or an ad for the metric system. Would have been out in either late 70s or early 80s.
    I’ve tried looking for it online a few times but to no avail… Anyone? :)

    1. Slightly Bemused

      I don’t remember those. Admittedly in my early, formative years my father limited TV access, so maybe I just missed them.

  4. broadbag

    Deliberately omitting the words ”at least” and ”more than” from your quotes shows you’re hell-bent on being outraged no matter what. It’s a mistake but jeez get over yourself, it’s not like they’re giving out advice to lick door handles and then find your nearest elderly person and give them a lick too.

  5. Cian

    Interesting cropping on those pictures.

    The HPSC leaflet says:
    • Try and keep active by getting up and moving around as much as possible. If you have your own outdoor space, you can go out to get some fresh air but please keep away from other people, including neighbours. Keep a distance of at least 1 metre (3ft) but where possible 2 metres (6 feet) from other people.
    and
    6. Do not have visitors in your home
    • Do not invite or allow unnecessary visitors to come into the home.
    • If someone urgently needs to come to the house, keep at least 1 metre (3ft) and where possible 2 metres (6.5ft) away from them and advise them that you are not well.

    either way, the recommendations are for people at home/in their own garden. Leaving 2m in most homes would mean nobody else could be in the same room as you.

    1. George

      2 metres is just a little over 6feet. It is possible unless you live in a treehouse. Are there no rooms in your house big enough for someone to lie on the floor?

      1. Cian

        It is effectively a circle with a radius of 2m – so a diameter of 4m (13 feet);

        In most rooms of my house, if I sit in my usual spot, the 2m circle from there covers most of the other seats in the room – and quite often also covers the doorway. Yes I could stand in a corner and there would be room for other people.

    1. f_lawless

      Sorry but this is potentially dangerous misinformation.What qualifications do you have in the field of metrics to back that up?

  6. Custo

    Do what you feel is best for you Terry.

    Just because it says ‘at least 1m’ doesn’t mean you can’t stand further away.

    Panic over.

  7. John Smith

    Throughout the pandemic, WHO has recommended 1 metre. The two-metre rule is, presumably, a ‘to be sure, to be sure’ measure, as it can be seen as being extra safe and, in particular, allows for the fact that people cannot estimate distances terribly well. The HSE guidance shown above make much more sense than a blanket two-metre ruling, as there are many circumstances where two metres are not possible but one metre might be. The guard who spoke to me at a checkpoint didn’t even stick to one metre!

    The two metre rule is a major barrier to a return to normality and hits hardest at small businesses. For example, it is impracticable for most restaurants and cafés. They wouldn’t have enough customers to pay their expenses, if there had to be a distancing of two metres, and they couldn’t afford the expense of all the paraphernalia necessary for the conversion to ‘Covid-safe’ set-ups. A one-metre rule would be hard enough, as, of course, to make any sense, this would need to be over and above the space for chairs round the tables.

    If people don’t wish to come within two metres, they don’t have to. You don’t have to go into a restaurant or a shoe-shop or any of the other places that might be able to open with a one-metre rule in place.

    An easing of this rule would also help a lot of those people who are living in a state of fear – I know a number of these, not just ‘vulnerable’ people – to start to realise that they don’t need to be afraid to step outside their gate and that waiting in isolation for a vaccine is not the way to go. There are signs of light ahead – don’t let the tunnel be any longer than it needs to be!

  8. John Smith

    NB As an addition to my comment above, the guidance referred to is for someone who might have Covid-19 but it has wider implications, as I have explained.

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