Tuesday morning news briefing: 'No evidence' for 2m rule

Social distancing measures will be in place as Royal Ascot starts today - but is there any proof they work better at two metres than one?
Social distancing measures will be in place as Royal Ascot starts today - but is there any proof they work better at two metres than one? Credit: Blower

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Lockdown is a 'disaster for society', says Lord Hague

Figures published this morning lay bare the UK's coronavirus jobs meltdown. The number of workers on payrolls fell by more than 600,000 between March and May as lockdown hit Britain's labour market, according to the Office for National Statistics. Follow live updates and snap reaction in our business liveblog. This could be just the first wave of jobs lost as a result of the crisis. Experts are warning the UK might experience two more unemployment peaks. It came as former Conservative leader Lord Hague described the lockdown as a "disaster for our society" that will cause economic “catastrophe” for hundreds of thousands of people. Read his exclusive article for us, in which he likens lockdown to Dunkirk.

Meanwhile, experts say today that the two-metre rule has no basis in science. As the Government comes under increasing pressure to drop the measure, Professors Carl Heneghan and Tom Jefferson, from the University of Oxford, say that there is little evidence to support the restriction and called for an end to the "formalised rules". The University of Dundee also said there was no indication that distancing at two metres is safer than one metre. But Parliamentary sketchwriter Michael Deacon asks: would cutting the two-metre rule be enough to save our pubs? And allow Matt to lighten the mood with today's cartoon.

Two million children miss out on home schooling

More than two million children have done virtually no school work during lockdown, a study has found. One in five pupils in the UK either did no home learning at all or less than one hour a day, according to a report by University College London. Read our guide to the secrets of home education. It comes as new guidelines allow every secondary school pupil in England to return before the summer - but only for a one-day meeting. Meanwhile, scientists have suggested that children may be protected from coronavirus because they catch so many colds.

The new commute: 'Like a scene from a disaster movie'

Wearing face coverings will become "the new normal" for at least a year, the Mayor of London has suggested. After it became compulsory on public transport for the first time, Sadiq Khan said face coverings would be "the norm rather than the exception". On the first day of the new mandatory rules, Judith Woods took part in the great rush hour cover-up for us. Describing it as "like a scene from a disaster movie", she writes that the sight of commuters in masks is a reminder that the world we are stepping into is not the one we left behind. Read her piece.

PS: How do you wear a mask without your glasses steaming up? Or make-up smudging? Follow our guide to solving six common problems. For unlimited access to our journalism, why not try a subscription? Take a free one-month trial - then save 50pc on your first three months.

At a glance: More coronavirus headlines

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

Brexit | Boris Johnson has called on the three EU presidents to put a "tiger in the tank" of Brexit talks and said he saw "no reason" why a deal could not be done. There was optimism about breaking the deadlock over fishing, level playing field guarantees and the European Court of Justice. Brussels Correspondent James Crisp examines how talks went with the European Commission, Council and Parliament presidents.  

You Are Not Alone: Getting you through the crisis

  1. Corona-cautious or gung-ho | Where do you stand on Fear-o-Meter?
  2. Road trip | Why driving to the Alps will always be better than flying
  3. Staycations | Forget resorts, agritourism could be this summer's holiday trend

Comment and analysis

England hits the high street

As non-essential stores in England opened their doors for the first time since lockdown began yesterday, view our gallery to see more striking images of how restrictions are being lifted around the world.

A shopper in London's Oxford Street carries her purchases
A shopper in London's Oxford Street carries her purchases Credit: HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY for The Telegraph

Business and money briefing

British Airways | Willie Walsh has hit back at a scathing report by MPs on British Airways' treatment of staff during the pandemic. The Commons transport committee branded BA a "national disgrace" over plans to cut up to 12,000 jobs and change working conditions. But Mr Walsh defended the airline's response to the crisis.  

Sport briefing

Horse racing | This year's Royal Ascot will look rather different to normal. Not only will the course be bereft of spectators, but the usual order of service has been altered to reflect changes to the racing calendar. Marcus Armytage explains what to expect this week.  

And finally... for this morning's downtime

The problem with Platoon | To some, Platoon is the most accurate Vietnam movie ever made. But for African-American soldiers, it was described as little but a "slap in the face". Tom Fordy examines why Oliver Stone's epic made real veterans "furious".

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