What is Social Distancing and How it can Slow the Spread of COVID-19 ?
With increase in number of COVID-19 cases globally it has become important for all of us to understand Social Distancing, the term that is being discussed in media worldwide. It is being said that Social Distancing can help effectively in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
What is Social Distancing?
Social distancing is a public health practice that aims to prevent sick people from coming in close contact with healthy people in order to reduce opportunities for disease transmission. It can include large-scale measures like canceling group events or closing public spaces, as well as individual decisions such as avoiding crowds.
With COVID-19, the goal of social distancing right now is to slow down the outbreak in order to reduce the chance of infection among high risk population.
How do I practice social distancing?
According to the US Centre for Disease Control, Social Distancing applies to COVID-19 as “remaining out of congregrate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.”
It’s important to maintain 6-feet distance from anyone who is demonstrating signs of illness, including coughing, sneezing, or fever. Along with physical distance, proper hand-washing is important for protecting not only yourself but others around you because the virus can be spread even without symptoms.
It is very important to wash hands any time you enter from outdoors to indoors, before you eat, and before you spend time with people who are more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, including older adults and those with serious chronic medical conditions.
On the broader scale number of actions are being taken recent days are designed to encourage social distancing. These include –
Suspension of classes in schools, colleges, and universities and emphasize on online classes
Cities canceling events, including sporting events, festivals, and parades
Workplaces encouraging or mandating flexible work options like work from home
Organizations and businesses cancelling large gatherings, including conferences
Houses of worship suspending services
