'Stay three fridges apart': Government issues bizarre social distancing advice
The government has been mocked over a bizarre tweet saying that the 2-metre coronavirus social distancing rule is equivalent to “3 fridges”.
People in England are currently allowed to meet up with one person outside of their household as long as they stay 2m apart.
In an apparent attempt to help the public understand the rules, Boris Johnson’s official Twitter account shared a list of items of equivalent length.
Keep 2 metres apart when you go outside. That’s:
🔴 1 bed
🔴 2 benches
🔴 3 fridges
🔴 4 chairs#StayAlert— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 22, 2020
The tweet from the No.10 account read: “Keep 2 metres apart when you go outside.
“That’s 1 bed, 2 benches, 3 fridges, 4 chairs.”
Twitter users were quick to respond to the statement - with many highlighting the fact fridges come in various shapes and sizes.
Some people were worried they didn’t have a fridge....
Oh god. I've only got one fridge. This whole social distancing measure is giving me status anxiety.
And then there's the challenge of carrying the bed with you when you go outside to check you're not too close. I could probably manage a single, but that's not big enough is it.. https://t.co/n3AR1SH5LH— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) May 22, 2020
What happens if I don’t have 3 fridges? Can I have a fridge and 2 chairs? Someone who is good at the economy please help me budget this my family is dying
— Josh (@J0shSimpson) May 22, 2020
For some, it highlighted the confused messages the government has been criticised for
Am confused about apparently standardised bench size https://t.co/festlxAHZf
— Hugo Rifkind (@hugorifkind) May 22, 2020
So. Let me get this straight. This bench is about the size of a fridge? pic.twitter.com/EFQwXMISKF
— Stu #Staying Alert (@chantal_oiseau) May 22, 2020
Hi @BorisJohnson
For clarity - are we talking this kind of size? #fridges pic.twitter.com/7loNgCCB4D— Clare with no i (@clarelouisekc) May 22, 2020
Three of these? #fridges https://t.co/DeMUYgERm6 pic.twitter.com/1qWAAJGZgF
— emma green (@emmadora) May 22, 2020
Others referenced the prime minister entering a fridge to avoid being interviewed in December 2019
Boris Johnson certainly knows the size of a fridge. https://t.co/dNeBFlnqH3
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 22, 2020
Because it's easier to gauge the length of 3 invisible fridges* on the floor, out of context, than it is 2m.
*comes with free hiding PM https://t.co/nDSfLhGTt2— Richard Littler (@richard_littler) May 22, 2020
Meanwhile, some had far more serious critiques of the social distancing ‘measurement’ tool
It was not obvious to all those people on the beaches on Wednesday. Too much reliance on ‘common sense’ - not a great English attribute.
— Heather Squire (@SquireHeather) May 22, 2020
Just say 2 metres and get serious about it. People aren't thick - they are just think the rules don't apply to them.
— 🌈 Steve 🚹--------------------🚹 (@wohyeahwohyeah) May 22, 2020
Loving the Twitters jokes on this - but now you all have the 2m message in your heads! Result!! #fridges #2m #StayAlertSaveLives https://t.co/fl7PE1kzdP
— Cllr Claire Hiscott (@ClaireHiscott) May 22, 2020
Coronavirus: what happened today
Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter
Read more about COVID-19
How to get a coronavirus test if you have symptoms
What you can and can’t do under lockdown rules
In pictures: How UK school classrooms could look in new normal
How public transport could look after lockdown
How our public spaces will change in the future
Help and advice
Read the full list of official FAQs here
10 tips from the NHS to help deal with anxiety
What to do if you think you have symptoms
How to get help if you've been furloughed
