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So two things on that: on the one hand, you are of course correct on the face of it. However, it is worth remembering that my risk of getting infected just from walking past someone who isn't coughing in my general direction is really small, even if they are indeed positive. I still think the main issue is surfaces that are used a lot. Handrails, seats, door knobs, etc. etc.: it doesn't matter if you keep 10m distance to the next person to go through a door if you touch the same surfaces within seconds or minutes of each other.
Also secondly, I think they should declare all roads that aren't main roads pedestrian zones for the moment (with people living there allowed to drive through at say 10mph max). Imagine how nicely spaced out everybody could get about if we actually used the huge amount of road area that is currently mostly unused (see here).
SwissChap-
I still think the main issue is surfaces that are used a lot. Handrails, seats, door knobs, etc. etc.: it doesn't matter if you keep 10m distance to the next person to go through a door if you touch the same surfaces within seconds or minutes of each other.
This doesn't have to be a main issue - and shouldn't be. It's why hygiene is important. As individuals we can mitigate these risks ourselves.
I've tried to quantify what social distancing means... not just distance from people, but number of people we encounter.
If I go to the office and there's 150 people there in an open plan, I may come within 2m of 50 during the work day, add another 10-20 during lunch queuing for food and being served, add another 100+ strangers I walk past on the tube or share the tube/bus with, add a couple for neighbours and housemate.
2m space is good... but we should also reduce the number of people we pass in a day, push all the numbers down... so what's a low enough number?
If I casually cross the paths of 250 people in a day, should I aim for 10% of that? 25 people in a day... this is quite lax still, it's still popping out to a cafe for lunch whilst mostly staying in or crossing the road to avoid people. Could it be more aggressive? What about 5%? That's 12 people... but if I were ill and did infect 12 people that's still crazy growth of the virus... what is a per-person goal instead? Something that could be a nice rule I could apply to myself?
And so I came up with 5.
5 people within 2m per day... which is not to go in any shop, cafe, etc. Not to go meet at anyone's house. Still allows for a walk around the streets for air, but forces me to cross the road and not occupy even the pavement with others.
That said, I haven't gone outside in almost a week... so my number is 1.