Passers-by should “turn their heads” away from each other on narrow paths to avoid spreading coronavirus, a member of the Government’s Sage advisory committee said today.
Dr Shaun Fitzgerald said not facing friends directly when chatting was another change that could save lives. “It’s never just been about the distance in terms of creating a safe conversation,” he said.
Studies found face-to-face chatting was “more dangerous than back to back or side to side”.
Singing and shouting was also more likely to expel the virus than talking in a low voice, which would force pubs to turn sound systems down.
When unable to be more than two metres apart, it was safer to shorten the time of an encounter, wear a mask or simply turn away.
Dr Fitzgerald told Radio 4’s Today programme that if passing on a path less than two metres wide “to reduce the risk one could even turn one’s head away from the person passing you”.
Meanwhile, World Health Organisation expert Dr Margaret Harris said the UK had done well in bringing down coronavirus infections but had to be careful as lockdown measures were eased.
