Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs the two-metre social-distancing rule is “under review”.
Responding to SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, Mr Johnson said: “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.”
The rule states that people must stay at least two metres apart from people who are not members of their household when possible.
This includes in shops, public spaces, public transport and in gardens and parks.
Campaigners have said reducing the rule to one metre, as it is in some other countries, would allow pubs, cafes and restaurants to reopen.
Mr Blackford challenged the Prime Minister on the science of reducing the two-metre rule.
He said: “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.”
Mr Johnson replied: “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.”
