The planet is in a state of upheaval as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The most important sporting competitions have been cancelled (no NBA, Premier League, Coachella, etc.). Many towns and countries have partial or absolute curfews. Depending on where you live, public transportation is restricted or unavailable. The shops are all gone. Life as we know it has been thrown into disarray.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, governments and health organisations advise restricting social and physical interaction.
The last point, the restriction on touch, has given rise to a new concept: social distancing. This is to deal with the consequences of the present state of self-quarantine while avoiding social isolation. After all, social interaction is crucial.
In today's post on social distancing, read more about this emerging middle ground between self-quarantine and socializing.
What is the concept of social distancing?
While health organisations such as the CDC in the United States and the NHS in the United Kingdom (as well as virtually every other state health organisation in the world) advocate self-quarantine, they do not recommend full isolation. And it's not without cause. It is important that we maintain communication with others. We simply ought to change our approach in view of the current circumstances. That is the aim of social distancing.
The soft point between quarantined solitude and natural socialising is social distancing. The aim is to have a certain amount of distance from others while not entirely isolating yourself.
According to the CDC, a personal space interval of about six feet is advised. Some guidelines in this practise include not holding hands with strangers and definitely not kissing on the cheeks!
While the word is recent, the definition is not. In the past, societies have used various forms of social distancing, especially where there isn't a suitable therapeutic choice or vaccine for a disease.
Distancing yourself from others has its advantages.
So why do you think about social distancing when you could just keep doing what you were doing before the Coronavirus hit?
Here are few examples why it's beneficial to practise social distancing:
1. The apparent advantage of social distancing is that it reduces the likelihood of the COVID-19 virus spreading. And if you don't have it, someone you associate with will have it, and it will be passed on to you if you choose to socialise as usual. Distancing yourself from others will help you avoid this.
2. Practicing social distancing delays epidemic transmission, making it possible for our clinics to successfully cope with the crisis.
Hospitals do not perform well when they are overburdened, so social distancing tends to alleviate this issue.
3. The slower distribution that social distancing facilitates has another significant advantage: time. Researchers will have more time to discover and improve therapies and vaccines now that they have more time (cures even). The slower an illness spreads, the better our odds of finding a cure are.
By the way, the effects of social distancing aren't just hearsay; actual evidence suggests that the process of social distancing can be a successful barrier, or at the very least, can minimise pathogen transmission. According to a report published in the PLOS Medicine journal, shutting schools for 18 days helped slash the spread of the H1N1 virus by 29% in Mexico!
How to Use Social Distancing Techniques
So now that you know what social distancing is and what it will do for you, you may be curious how to put that into effect. To assist you, here are few tips and suggestions for practising healthy and successful social distancing:
1. When you catch up with friends or relatives, it's a smart idea to come up with non-touchy ways to welcome them. A wave hello is a good thing to do. If you have any other suggestions for non-touching greetings, please share them in the post.
2. If you do use public transportation, try to board the bus or train at a time when there are the fewest passengers.
3. The same rule applies to shopping malls and other public spaces: stop crowds wherever possible. The greater the number of individuals, the greater the chance of publicity.
4. When you step outside, try not to touch something. If you do touch your face (which is often inevitable, such as when pressing buttons in elevators or train doors), do not use the hand to do so. Even, as soon as you return, wash your hands thoroughly. Scrubbing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds is recommended by health practitioners.
5. It's a smart idea to wear gloves where and when you head out. It prevents you from actually touching objects.
6. Using a mask will help reduce the risk of inhaling infections.
7. Avoid shaking hands or touching people as you encounter them. Physical interaction raises the risk of the disease spreading or being contracted. It's sad, but limiting the physical contact with others is a smart idea before the danger of this disease has passed. You would not just reduce the risk of catching the infection, but you will also reduce the chances of someone you care about contracting it – because it is beneficial to all, not just you.
8. Work at home if at all necessary. In reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, most employers are adopting remote working activities, so take advantage of it if it's convenient.
9. If possible, shop for groceries online.
10. If internet shopping isn't an alternative or you have to go to the store for whatever reason, make a list of what you need so you can be effective and minimise the amount of time you spend outdoors, lowering the chance of exposure.
11. If you have to go to the store, visiting at off-peak hours reduces the chances of being exposed and there would be less customers around.
12. There's no reason you can't go to the gym if you really want to. Simply observe the 6-foot rule of personal space to avoid working out in cramped areas. Often, wash your hands before and after going to the gym.
13. If you wish to socialise with your colleagues, you can do so in a less busy setting. But, if you just want to be secure, video chats are the way to go.
Stay healthy when avoiding isolation.
There's no excuse that you shouldn't keep in touch with people. In reality, staying connected with the ones you love and care for is more vital than ever in difficult times like these. Only do so in a responsible manner, since this decreases the risk of spreading viruses to yourself and others.
Social distancing isn't about isolating yourself and becoming a hermit; it's about becoming mindful of current problems (such as the Coronavirus) and taking action to protect yourself and others while remaining close to others you care about.
