Your Guide to Social Distancing in Covid-19 Outbreak
By now, we’ve all heard of “social distancing” and that we should all be practicing it in our daily lives to help “flatten the curve.” But what does this actually mean? In this blog, we’ll take a look at the concept and provide some tips for social distancing in Covid-19 times.
As we in Canada deal with the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), politicians, media outlets and many others are talking about self-isolation and social distancing. It’s an important part of Canada’s response to COVID-19, so let’s start with a basic introduction to the concept.
What is Social Distancing?
Social distancing is about increasing the physical space between you and everyone else, not including the people you live with.
There’s a great explanation here from Johns Hopkins Medicine about the details. Essentially, the rules of social distancing dictate that you should avoid public places as much as possible, and aim to maintain at least 2 metres of space between yourself and everyone else when out in public. This is why schools, daycares, gyms, libraries, movie theatres and other places where people gather have been closing across the country. So, a stroll through a wide-open park won’t put you at risk, but if you have to ride a bus to get there, it’s best to stay home.
This is also why many businesses are opting to have people work from home as much as possible. It’s not just to reduce contact at work, but also to reduce contact during commutes, at coffee shops, lunch hot spots and so on.
A key thing to remember about social distancing is that it’s about precaution not panic.
What Does “Flattening the Curve” Mean?
You may have heard that the purpose of social distancing is to “flatten the curve.” The “curve” refers to how a line graph of an outbreak looks. As Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases explains here, the graph of a typical outbreak usually shows a big spike, then a drop (thus creating a large curve in the line).
By taking precautionary measures like social distancing to limit the spread of the virus, the curve for COVID-19 can be flattened out, meaning the number of people infected will be much smaller.
The Importance of Flattening the Curve
Although most people who contract the virus will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover fully, others may not, especially those in high risk groups. This gives us two big reasons to flatten the curve and reduce the spread of the virus as much as possible.
Protecting high risk groups
People at the highest risk for complications from COVID-19 include the elderly and people with underlying health conditions, especially heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. By limiting the spread of the virus, we lower the chances of these groups becoming infected.
Limiting the impact on healthcare services
Healthcare services (think hospitals, clinics, etc.) are working around the clock to screen suspected cases as well as care for those infected, all while continuing to care for non-COVID-19 related patients. The higher the infections rate, the higher the strain on these services and the people who work within them. Reducing that strain is incredibly important to ensure those who really need help can access it.
What can we do to help?
As individuals, we need to manage our own contact with others as much as possible, as well as take measures to maintain our own health and well-being. For employers, now is the time to get as flexible as possible about where, when and how people work.
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