The COVID-19 is a difficult enemy for all the nations it entered. Public health officials are requesting the population to participate in slowing the spread of the deadly illness. One way to slow its spread is through social distancing, says an article.

Social Distancing

Social distancing is a method advised by public health officials to be followed by people to prevent the fast spread of the deadly novel coronavirus. This is done by staying at a distance from other people. This prevents the further spread of the novel coronavirus from one person to another.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that social distancing is avoiding mass gatherings and staying at a distance of 6 feet of 2 meters away from one another.

In New York City, theaters were left with no choice but to temporarily postpone its operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many conventions in different parts of the world were also suspended. Additionally, a lot of schools all over the US had postponed classes.

Avoiding Close Contacts with Other People

Many are deciding to skip public transport and driving themselves to work. Those who need to take the train are deciding to travel during off-hours. This helps maintain at least a 6-foot distance from other passengers.

Social distancing also means avoiding touching other people. This includes handshakes. Physically touching a surface with the novel coronavirus can cause that person from contracting the COVID-19. Also, this can contribute to spreading the virus even more.

It Cannot Prevent 100% Transmission of the Illness

Social distancing does not fully assure that the transmission of the virus will be prevented. However, it reassures that through this method, its spread will be slowed down.

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Prevent Overwhelming a Nation's Healthcare System

If the total number of cases of the novel coronavirus is not kept at levels that the health care system cannot handle, then hospitals and health care centers will get overwhelmed. This means that unnecessary deaths may occur.

Why is Social Distancing Effective at Slowing the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus?

If conducted properly on a large scale, social distancing has the power to slow the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus from one person to another. Before showing symptoms from the illness, people can spread the virus without knowing that they are already infected. Everyone that these people had gotten in close contact may contract the disease and spread further the illness.

It is very important to determine the possibility of being exposed to someone who has the illness. These people are being advised to quarantine themselves.

Based on a recently published study, self-quarantine should last for two weeks. This is the period where a person may be showcasing symptoms of the COVID-19. If after the 14-day quarantine the person does not show any symptoms of the illness, then he or she may end the self-quarantine. Shorter quarantine periods may be done by those who are asymptomatic to the illness.