Social and Physical Distancing
Update: 20may23
SALAMUHA is frequently heard in the radio and television.
It means mingling with other people, gathering, socializing, hobnobbing with other people.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING ANY MORE!
LET'S CALL IT "PHYSICAL DISTANCING." NOT, "SOCIAL DISTANCING" ANYMORE!
Since coronavirus is spread mainly through respiratory droplets, especially when people cough or sneeze, maintaining a safe distance is recommended to decrease transmission.
Originally, social distancing was being used. Now, WHO is changing to physical distancing.
"Physical distance is measured in metric metres or centimetres. It is the geographical distance from person A to person B while 'social distance' is a measure of distance across social boundaries."
We are creating physical distance between us to limit the spread of the virus.
Social distancing refers to creating physical space between one another and avoiding large gatherings.
"In these strange times of the virus, we want clear physical distance (minimum two metres), but at the same time, we want people to remain close to each other 'socially'."
The idea is to clarify that an order to stay at home during the current coronavirus outbreak isn't about breaking contact with your friends and family — but rather keeping a physical distance to make sure the disease doesn't spread.
We should think of this time as 'physical distancing' to emphasize that we can remain socially connected even while being apart.
While maintaining a physical distance was "absolutely essential" amid the global pandemic, "it does not mean that socially we have to disconnect from our loved ones, from our family."
The WHO recommends being more than one metre (three feet) away from the nearest person, while some health experts have suggested maintaining a distance of at least two metres from others.
A number of measures can be taken to increase the physical space between people.
They include staying home more often, working from home if possible, catching up with loved ones online instead of in person, strictly limiting the number of visitors to your home, avoiding large public gatherings or public transport, and staying away from other people when you are in a public space.
"Social distancing makes it sound like people should stop communicating with one another, while instead we should be preserving as much community as we can even while we keep our physical distance from one another,"
"We need to do physical distancing to protect everyone's physical wellbeing, but mental wellbeing is obviously also important, and social isolation is not good for mental wellbeing."
