why social distancing is important

One problem with COVID-19 is that some people, especially those who are younger, have only mild symptoms or none at all. For helpful resources regarding coronavirus, visit: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Coronavirus Disease 2019 fact page and The National Association of County and City Health Officials' directory of local health departments. Why trust us? And rather than taking a spin class at your gym, go for a jog outside. “We want to avoid being in a position where doctors are trying to decide who gets a ventilator, where there’s not enough available for the people who need it to continue living, which is happening in Italy.” Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, technicians, etc.) "It’s transmitted through respiratory droplets generated when someone infected coughs or sneezes. How to Best Alleviate COVID-19 Symptoms at Home, These Reusable Grocery Bags Make Shopping a Breeze, How to Read the 'Bridgerton' Books in Order. You should keep atleast 1m gap. 'My Ear Infection Turned Out To Be a Tick', Dr. Phil Says Having Open Conversations Is a Must, 12 Great Fidget Toys That Can Soothe Away Anxiety, The Japanese Way of Accepting Change and Loss. Sign up to receive regularly scheduled updates from us packed with healthy news, tips, research, recipes, and more – right to your inbox! Please share far & wide and translate it into any language you can! Across the country, different communnities are handling COVID-19 differently. Examples of social distancing include: It is now everyoneâs responsibility, both those who are healthy and those who are sick, to practice social distancing. Even if you don’t have symptoms, but you’re an older adult or a person who has heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, you’re at a higher risk of developing life-threatening complications from COVID-19 and should follow these precautions from the CDC. Read This. Why social distancing and hand washing are more important than a face mask. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings over 500 people . Social distancing is one of the more common buzzwords to now enter our daily vocabulary. If you wait for the curve of the graph to rise before you take precautions, it could be too late to make a difference, but the right precautions can "flatten the curve.". Social distancing is for your protection as much as those that may come into contact with places you have been and touched. The rationale behind social (physical) distancing is to try and avoid a huge spike in COVID-19 cases that will put too much strain on our health care system all at once. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Tumblr Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp. Dr. Yam reiterates that making the other party feel respected is key. Kaitlyn started her career as a reporter in the research department at Real Simple and went on to become a health editor at Family Circle before joining the Hearst team. Remember, social distancing is important during the coronavirus pandemic, but that is not the “end all” for preventative measures. You Can Buy Girl Scout Cookies Online Right Now, Understanding and Confronting Microaggressions. Learn everything you need to know here. In fact, there’s a graph circulating online that features two bell curves: one that goes up and down steeply past a horizontal line indicating the capacity of our healthcare system (illustrating the current track we’re on), and one whose rise and fall is more gradual and doesn't surpass that horizontal line (illustrating what might happen with more protective measures in place). The Centers for Disease Control (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.” It’s the reason many colleges are finishing out the spring semester online, Broadway shows are on hiatus, and cinemas are only allowing half as many people in as usual. As the name suggests, it calls for people to increase the space between one another and to avoid gatherings and crowds. Social distancing is limiting interaction with other people by keeping a safe distance so as not to spread any kind of disease. Check out these tips to keep busy and stay connected with others. Social distancing has completely taken over our communities recently. may also start to get sick, bringing down the quality of care and triggering a rise in fatality, he notes. Why practice social distancing? Why social distancing is important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sign up to receive weekly updates from us packed with healthy news, tips, research, recipes, and more â right to your inbox! If you are sick with COVID-19, have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 , or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, it is important to stay home and away from other people until it is safe to be around others . Experts say it could actually help slow the spread of COVID-19. The importance of social distancing The goal of social distancing is to keep healthy people and those who are sick from coming into close contact with one another. “There’s what’s called a latency period between the time when you are infected and when you exhibit symptoms.” This means that someone who seems pretty healthy could infect others without even realizing they carry the virus. Social distancing is especially important for people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social distancing means remaining out of group settings and avoiding mass gatherings. "In terms of social distancing, it’s important to understand how this virus is transmitted," says Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic. If someone is sick and there are no people around, a virus cannot spread. It means that—for a time, anyway—we all refrain from attending concerts, church services, sporting events, and assemblies, and from going to restaurants or using public transportation—basically shunning all large congregating groups and always remaining at least six feet away from the next person, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By taking steps to limit interactions, we can slow the spread and protect our community. An in… But as a relatively new phrase, there maybe some confusion over what it means and why it's important for us to follow right now. It is important for them to strictly obey social distancing rules, and protect their health. Social distancing is hugely important as it effectively reduces further transmission of the virus, and also helps to lessen the strain on the already overstretched NHS. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Many cities, counties and states have mandated a period of self isolation to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, and it’s likely that social distancing will continue for some time. What does it mean to practice social distancing? It's all in an effort to try and minimize the number of germs that pass from one person to another. dani July 21, 2020. Social distancing is the act of separating yourself in order to stop the spread of infection. As novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 250 after 50 more people were infected with the fast-spreading virus in various parts of the country, an expert explains why social distancing is … Social distancing consists o repressing our natural need for human contact. The virus has up to a 14-day incubation period where you may feel no symptoms at all. COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period. “It’s important to ask for consent to have a conversation about social distancing, or similar matters. It is extremely important to carry out social distancing, as a result of the ensuing reasons: You can protect yourself. Mercy Health is doing related to COVID-19. One research has found Spanish flu that was back then to have a reproductive number of about 1.8. This slows the person-to-person transmission of the virus, as well as the spread of COVID-19 in general. Social distancing is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others. The goal of social distancing is to keep healthy people and those who are sick from coming into close contact with one another. “Social distancing" for all families The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily through physical contact from person to person. A person who willingly gives consent is more likely to be open to what you have to say, and less likely to be resistant,” she says. That’s why, when considering social plans, it’s important to consider how much *space* you’ll have. Social distancing, also known as physical distancing, is one of the few known ways to reduce the risk of contracting, or spreading, COVID-19. Social distancing means keeping space between two or more people. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Call our 24/7 COVID-19 Hotline at (888) 700-9011 for questions and guidance. “The mild or asymptomatic are high-risk as they are not sick enough to know to stay away from crowds, whereas those who feel sick usually visit a doctor or ER. When near other people, maintaining a distance of at least six feet from them when possible is critical as well. And why is it important for healthy people to practice social distancing too? How Does the AstraZeneca Vaccine Compare? However, staying at home can start to get lonely after a while. Social distancing reduces virus transmission by limiting the exposure of individuals to sickness or illnesses during the spread. Local Why social distancing and masks are important in schools. The reason why social distancing is important at this point of time is to give some breathing space to our healthcare system so that we do not overwhelm it by cascading the number of cases. Try your best to stay home and avoid all nonessential travel. In short, experts say, social distancing is our one and only big hope for intervening early enough to dramatically reduce the spread of the disease and deaths. However, social distancing doesn't mean you can't leave your house, or have fun with friends. It's important to remember to practice it within reason. With the current coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) upon us, you’ve likely heard health officials, celebrities, and even the friends you were supposed to go out for drinks with tonight, stress the need for social distancing. “New science suggests that people can spread the virus before they are symptomatic,” says Larsen. During this time where you feel fine, you could be spreading the virus to … While some are getting back to work, others continue to stay at home. This is why it is important to reduce the ways people come in close contact with one another. “It is believed that one positive person can transmit the virus to two or three other people, which results in those two to three affecting more people,” says Peter Gulick, D.O., professor of medicine at MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. This means in close quarters, a non-infected person can inhale respiratory droplets from an infected person, especially whenever they cough or sneeze. Social distancing is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick. If everyone gets sick at the same time, hospitals will be overwhelmed, and won’t have the capability to … It is important to strictly follow the rules of social distancing because we have no other options as of now and that seems the most effective for everyone’s well-being and safety. Those who have recovered after contracting the virus, virus are powerless in their system; it … This slows the person-to-person transmission of the virus, as well as the spread of COVID-19 in general. As the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues, one of the measures recommended by health professionals and governments is social distancing – the practice of keeping a safe distance away from other people in order to limit the spread of a pathogen. The best way to better protect yourself from developing COVID-19 are things you can do right now: wash your hands, avoid large crowds, and stay home if you feel ill. If you're feeling overwhelmed by say, working from home, or if you're experiencing anxiety over the coronavirus, there are certain things you can do to keep yourself healthy, including: eating well, getting enough sleep, and communicating with friends and family via phone and text. However, during this COVID-19 crisis, it has become indispensable in order to try to stop the spread of this virus. Stay updated on what Mercy Health is doing related to COVID-19. This is the reason why most events and gatherings scheduled for the next few months have been either canceled or postponed. “With that number of hospitalizations, you can overwhelm the system and get into situations where there’s insufficient care available for all the people that need it,” says Larsen. As we attempt to emerge from lockdown and try to return tentatively to our previous lives, workplace social distancing is going to become increasingly important to protect employees from potential exposure or spreading the virus. Our #FlattenTheCurve graphic is now up on @Wikipedia with proper attribution & a CC-BY-SA licence. Many new COVID-19 buzzwords have come to light in the last couple of weeks. Social distancing is the official term for such self-isolating behavior. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Consider the risk of exposure to the following things: Flu Season; “We need to do things, we need to go out and be human,” says Larsen. We can mitigate the spread if we disassemble the crowds.”. When everyone is not sick all at once, hospitals arenât overwhelmed and can better manage the resources needed to care for infected individuals. Learning to Homeschool Your Kids? You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Why social distancing is key in containing the new coronavirus Researchers say that SARS-CoV-2’s rapid spread is likely due to the movements of people with no … colleges are finishing out the spring semester online, cinemas are only allowing half as many people in as usual, to better protect yourself from developing COVID-19, 10-20% of people with the disease may require hospitalization, experiencing anxiety over the coronavirus, How to Safely Enjoy Food Takeout and Delivery, How This Social Worker Is Fighting COVID-19. Social distancing is a way to slow down or stop the spread of infectious diseases such as the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) by limiting contact between you and other people. For children with asthma, it may be necessary to do some distancing during other seasons as well. “Each interaction carries a probability of a transmission, and in the case of an outbreak of an infectious disease, if you decrease those interactions, you can decrease the probability of transmission events.” Essentially, if a person practices social distancing, they can protect themselves, he says, but if an entire community practices it, you can possibly stop a virus in its tracks. Social distancing is just as important as ever. Practicing social distancing means youâre doing your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Government recommends to protect the face from face masks, like N95 respiratory face masks or any cotton face cover, to prevent catching of infection. Please review our Terms of Use before commenting. But even if you're feeling fine, or aren't in the group of higher-risk people, practicing social distancing is important. 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