Social Distancing: What To Do And Not To Do During The Coronavirus Outbreak
For some, social distancing can be a confusing concept to understand, but it’s important to be as educated as possible during this outbreak. The CDC defines social distancing as “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.” Social distancing is NOT the same thing as isolating or quarantining, although depending on where you live and who you live with, self-isolation or self-quarantining may be a good idea. Keep reading for the six dos and don’ts of social distancing.
Do: Go walking, biking, and hiking with friends (as long as you stay 6 feet apart).
Even though most of us are working from home, it’s important to stay active. Walking, biking, and hiking are great ways to spend some time outdoors in addition to spending time with friends and loved ones. If it’s a nice sunny day, it’s nice to just sit outside and soak in some sunshine by yourself or with family. Although, remember it’s important to stay six feet apart from people in order to stop the fast spread of COVID-19 (this is called “flattening the curve”). Self isolating/quarantining does NOT mean that you have to be alone! This is a difficult time, and we should all lean on (but not literately!) each other in order to get through it. Keep spending time with those you care about, but get creative and find ways to stay six feet apart!
Don’t: Assume that someone is not infectious even if that person is not showing symptoms.
Yes, this does sound contradictory, but some individuals can carry COVID-19 and not show any symptoms at all. The CDC website states that the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person; this could be through people who are within close contact of one another (approximately less than six feet) and through “respiratory droplets” produced by an individual who coughs or sneezes on to someone else. Although people are thought to be the most contagious when they are showing symptoms, the CDC has stated that the coronavirus is different than other viruses in the sense that it can be spread person-to-person before an individual is showing any symptoms at all. This is why social distancing is so important!
Do: Avoid gatherings of ten or more people.
Two weeks ago, President Trump advised that individuals should avoid gathering in groups of ten or more people. Overall, the less people you come in close proximity with, the better. By staying as far away as possible from others, we are lessening the chance of spreading the virus. This means no more dinner parties, watch parties, or any kind of parties in general for the time being (although, using the website Zoom, you can still get together with several of your friends over the internet to celebrate special occasions or to simply catch up)! In regards to social distancing, Mr. Trump stated, “There is still a long battle ahead, but our efforts are already paying dividends, […] As we enhance protections against the virus, Americans across the country are hoping the day will soon arrive when they can resume their normal economic, social and religious lives.”
Don’t: Go to the salon, gym, or other high-touch non-essential services.
I know how tempting it is to go out and get your acrylics filled in, or to go sit inside Starbucks and send out emails, but at this time, going to places where a lot of people are crossing paths is dangerous, (most non-essential business are probably closed at this point anyway). Part of social distancing means making small changes to your own life so that you can protect yourself and others from the virus, and to prevent it from spreading quickly. You can absolutely give yourself an at-home mani-pedi, and there are thousands of workouts online that you can do from home. Hopefully, the more we practice social distancing, the faster COVID-19 will stop spreading and the faster we can all get back to living our lives as usual!
Do: Aggressively wash your hands and disinfect surfaces if you do have to go outside.
Obviously, there are some places you HAVE to go in order to survive during self-quarantine/isolation, such as the grocery store. When you do go, it’s advised that you wear a mask/gloves ONLY if you have them (do NOT try and buy any at this time — save them for the medical professionals who need them!), and to make sure you have hand sanitizer with you that you are using frequently. Make sure you wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap as soon as you get home and frequently throughout the day even if you have not gone outside; one website recommended singing the chorus to Beyoncé’s “Love On Top” to ensure that you are washing your hands for the proper amount of time. Additionally, take precautions and make sure you disinfect all of the surfaces in your home that are frequently being touched/used; COVID-19 can live on hard surfaces anywhere from a few hours to several days.
Don’t: Think that this is just about you.
Although you may not be at high risk of contracting the COVID-19 and the virus being fatal, social distancing ensures that we are protecting the individuals who are at high risk, such as the elderly and individuals with respiratory problems. It is our responsibility as good citizens to do our part in making sure that the least amount of people get this virus as possible! This is a very difficult time for all of us, as our lives no longer look the same as usual, but we must come together as a community to put a stop to the spread of COVID-19. Practice social distancing, and stay happy and well!
