{"id":9937,"date":"2020-03-24T10:04:53","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T14:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=9937"},"modified":"2020-07-23T12:18:31","modified_gmt":"2020-07-23T16:18:31","slug":"social-distance-coronavirus-isolation-precautions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/social-distance-coronavirus-isolation-precautions\/","title":{"rendered":"What exactly is social distancing? What\u2019s the proper way to do it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: As experts learn more about the novel coronavirus, news and information changes. For the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the<\/span><\/i> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

By now, everyone has heard about social distancing. It\u2019s a simple term, but what it means and why it\u2019s necessary is causing some confusion. It may seem drastic, but experts agree that social distancing plus precautions like handwashing and wearing a mask in public are the best ways to \u201c<\/span>flatten the curve<\/span><\/a>\u201d and have the best outcome possible for the <\/span>COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What does it mean to \u201cflatten the curve\u201d?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cThe \u2018curve\u2019 refers to the number of people who will contract COVID-19 over a period of time,\u201d says <\/span>Soma Mandal<\/span><\/a>, MD, of Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.\u00a0“\u2019Flattening the curve\u2019 refers to all the measures that are being taken right now to reduce the number of cases. The efforts to \u2018flatten the curve\u2019 are to avoid overtaxing our health care capacity [in terms of] number of hospital beds, emergency room availability, available doctors and nurses to take care of patients, and availability of adequate equipment to treat patients.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Shuhan He<\/span><\/a>, MD, is on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic as an emergency medicine physician at Mass General Hospital in Boston. He likens flattening the curve to the toilet paper rush (and subsequent shortage).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen everyone tries to buy toilet paper at once, there is no toilet paper left,\u201d he says. \u201cThat is a peak in the curve. But when everyone buys it at a slow, regular pace, there is always enough to go around. That is a peak that has been flattened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Essentially, as coronavirus transmission slows, the number of people infected at one time decreases, and makes it possible for everyone to receive better care. This includes other medical emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, and anything else that might require hospitalization and the resources that come with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>The do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of preparing for coronavirus<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What are the differences between social distancing, self-isolation\/quarantine, full isolation, and lockdown?<\/b><\/h2>\n

While this <\/span>terminology<\/span><\/a> is not exclusive to the COVID-19 pandemic, these words come up more frequently as mandates and recommendations for flattening the curve emerge.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Mandal outlines the different definitions:<\/span><\/p>\n

Social distancing:<\/b> Avoidance of public gatherings and maintaining a distance of 6 feet from other people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Self-isolation\/quarantine:<\/b> Separating a person or group of people who have been exposed to a communicable disease but are not yet symptomatic. This is done to prevent the spread of a communicable disease.\u00a0In terms of coronavirus isolation precautions, the quarantine period is currently 14 days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Full Isolation:<\/b> Separation of a person or group of people who are reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease and potentially able to spread that disease to others. Isolation can be voluntary, or can be mandated by the federal, state, or local public health board.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lockdown:<\/b> In this current health crisis, lockdown refers to preventing people from leaving a certain area. This can be mandated at the federal (national lockdown), state, or local level. Depending on the level of the lockdown, all services except essential services are shut down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is social distancing a recommendation or a requirement?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Whether it is a requirement or a recommendation depends on the state, city, or even country. Some cities have shut down bars, restaurants, night clubs, and other places people gather socially. Many areas have closed schools to slow the spread among children, who often have milder symptoms but can still infect other people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In places where social distancing isn\u2019t mandated yet, it is strongly urged. \u201cIf more people do not practice social distancing, then we may be forced into a lockdown, at which point it would be mandatory,\u201d says Dr. Mandal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social distancing works when the vast majority of people are practicing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do I need to practice social distancing even if I don\u2019t have symptoms and don\u2019t think I have been exposed to anyone with COVID-19?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Yes! People with COVID-19 can be contagious before they show coronavirus symptoms. That means that you may have come into contact with somehow who is spreading COVID-19 and doesn\u2019t show it, or you could be infected yourself and not know it. Some people, <\/span>particularly younger adults<\/span><\/a>, are never symptomatic but can still spread the infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social distancing also keeps healthy people healthy. You may not have come in contact with the virus yet, but staying home lessens the chances that you will and helps prevent spreading it to others if you do.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the guidelines for social distancing?<\/b><\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re social distancing, you should not:<\/span><\/p>\n