What is Social Distancing, and How Can it Keep Us Safe?

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting almost every part of our lives, it is so important that we take measures to protect ourselves and families from getting sick. There are multiple practices we can implement and continue, like hand-washing and not touching our faces, that are proven to keep us safer, but what about social distancing? What is it, and can it actually lessen our chances of contracting a virus?

What is Social Distancing?

Social distancing is basically the act of distancing yourself from others. “Social distancing measures are taken to restrict when and where people can gather to stop or slow the spread of infectious diseases,” according to the Public Health Department of Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System. “Social distancing measures include limiting large groups of people coming together, closing buildings and canceling events.”

This practice can protect you from catching illnesses and bringing them home to your family. To implement your own household social distancing measures, start by avoiding large gatherings and crowds. You can even consider working from home. Alachua County has already begun taking measures to cancel events and reduce large crowds, and to stay up to date on canceled local events, click here. Also, avoiding handshakes and hugs is a way to decrease the spread of germs and disease.

It is important to know that if you start to feel sick or show flu-like symptoms, you should be immediately isolated and quarantined from others; do not go into work or school; and call your health care provider. Continue to check in to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) websites for updates on ways to protect yourself and others.