What Is Social Distancing And How Do I Practice It?

By now, everyone has heard the phrase “social distancing.” But what is social distancing and how do we practice it in our everyday lives?

On Monday, March 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the White House issued a joint advisory recommending against any gatherings of 10 or more people. As we have recently seen in our community, this has led to closures and/or cancellations of public schools, universities, libraries, museums, places of worship, restaurants, bars, concerts, sporting events, malls, movie theaters, etc. This encourages voluntary “social distancing” for the safety, health, and well-being of our community.

What Is Social Distancing?

Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid the spread of any infectious disease, such as Coronavirus (COVID-19). Staying at least six feet away from other people decreases your chance of catching the illness.

Why Do We Practice Social Distancing?

By limiting close contact with other humans we can flatten the curve and reduce transmission of the disease. What does flatten the cure mean? Flatten the curve refers to using protective practices to slow the rate of COVID-19 infection so hospitals have room, supplies, and doctors for all of the patients who require care.

This particularly applies to the vulnerable people in our community:

• Elderly
• Those with health problems – diabetes, respiratory issues, etc.
• Anyone with a compromised immune system

For low-risk and healthy individuals, even if you don’t feel ill, you could protect the most vulnerable and prevent infection simply by staying home.

What Should I Do?

Reduce unnecessary trips out of the house, avoid large crowds, and crowded spaces. Here are a few things you can do while you practice social distancing at home:

• Visit loved ones by electronic devices instead of in-person
• Watch movies at home. Chrome has an extension called Netflix Party that allows you to simultaneously stream Netflix with friends and family.
• Catch up on your reading list
• Go outside for a hike, a walk, ride your bike, do yard work, or garden

If you need to leave your house, then:

• Maintain a safe distance of at least six feet from other people to reduce contact
• Don’t shake hands
• Wipe down any surface you might come into contact
• Disinfect your hands by washing them or using a hand sanitizer
• Use gloves to touch cart handles, doorknobs, credit card readers, gas pumps

Most importantly, always remember to wash your hands as soon as you get home with hot water and soap.

Let’s continue to be considerate of the well-being of our community and practice good social distancing. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 Updates Page.