1 meter is kind of a minimum. 2 is better. I prefer 7-10.
COVID spreads by long-lasting aerosols.
When those aerosols are present (mostly indoors, occasionally outside with high population density and high infection rates), distance does not matter: 3 feet, 6 feet, 60 feet, all the same.
When those areosols are not present, distance also does not matter (of course).
Masks do help. Distance guideline are ridiculous.