I long have been under the impression that one meter is about three feet, and hence six feet equals about two meters.
Regulatory responses to COVID-19 have changed many things about our lives.
Unit conversion is one such thing.
In the United States, where the English measurement system prevails, the standard unit for social distancing is six feet.
In Denmark, where the metric system is used, the standard social distance unit is one meter.
So, the COVID-19 conversion comes out like this:
1 meter = 6 feet
See for yourself, from this confirmation service photo, which the caption describes in terms of “én meters afstand” (one meter's distance apart) “og to meters, hvis der er sang” (or two meters, if there's singing):
It’s not only that mathematical relationships convert at a new ratio under COVID policies, but also that material relationships have a new significance. Policies applicable to American churches generally call for six feet of separation (or twelve if singing) plus the wearing of masks. Policies for Danish churches call for one meter of separation (or two if singing), treating masks as optional.
As the same webpage continues: “There is no requirement, that you need to wear a mask inside the church hall, in the cemetary, or elsewhere on the church grounds. If you wear a mask anyway, be aware that it does not allow you to sit closer together (unless you’re from the same household). ... The distance and square meter requirements still apply, even if you’re wearing a mask.”
Some countries split the difference: 1.5 meters. Whatever their answers, all of the health officials seem to think science is on their side.
A question worth asking: is epidemiology a branch of biology, or is it a branch of political science?
Dr. Ryan MacPherson holds a PhD in history and philosophy of science from the University of Notre Dame. After serving for twenty years as a professor at Bethany Lutheran College, he served as the founding academic dean of Luther Classical College for three years. He is author of Rediscovering the American Republic, a two-volume anthology of primary sources in American history, as well as several other books on topics ranging from theology to politics to bioethics. Dr. MacPherson has testified in court in defense of a homeschool father and for the protection of traditional American civics curricula, contributed to legal briefs submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in defense of marriage and the rule of law, appeared regularly on a variety of radio shows, and taught seminars for pastors and educators in Canada, Denmark, and Ecuador. The MacPherson homeschool family offers online enrichment courses through Lifelong Lyceum.
