PHYSICAL DISTANCE, EH!: Man measures 46 Timbits as the length for staying 2 metres apart

For anyone who has ever wondered how many Timbits make up the six feet of social distancing people need to adhere to — the answer is 46.

That’s what one person on TikTok put to the test as floor decals have recently appeared in the coffee chain’s locations, indicating “please stand 46 Timbits apart.” The man posted a video about his visit to a local Tim Hortons to investigate whether that number of bite-sized treats did in fact make up six feet, or two metres.

“Here in Canada, we can see people but we still need to be six feet apart. Just in case you don’t really know what six feet is here in Canada, it’s 46 Timbits,” said the man who goes by the handle jateff in the video.

In another TikTok video, he was able to fit 48 of the mini doughnuts along a six-foot-long measuring tape, adding a disclaiming that the Timbits start a bit ahead of the tape and it’s not entirely straight.

His conclusion? The 46-Timbit claim “could be fairly accurate.”

The initial TikTok received more than 230,000 views.

Keepin’ it sweet. Keepin’ it safe. 👌 Thanks for the love, Ian!

— Tim Hortons (@TimHortons) June 9, 2020

The description on his TikTok account describes him as “bored, this is my covid life now. Electrical technician. 35.”

Tim Hortons, replying to a tweet about the signs, said, “Keepin’ it sweet. Keepin’ it safe.”

A spokesman for the coffee and doughnut chain could not be reached Wednesday.

Health minister Patty Hajdu has previously said the two-metre rule is equivalent to the length of a hockey stick. Some businesses have even taped hockey sticks to debit machines, allowing customers to physical distance.

“Most Canadians know intuitively how long a hockey stick is,” said Hajdu. ”That’s the distance you should be keeping between you and someone else that you’re walking with. Of course, family members can walk closer if they’re asymptomatic and living together.”

jyuen@postmedia.com