Years ago, I was in a meeting preparing for our team’s trip to Iraq. Someone asked “How do we know if it’s ok or not to go out without anyone guarding us?” The response? “You’ll know if you don’t come back.”
Suddenly there was complete silence, because everyone knew the responder was serious.
It was pretty clear. You don’t leave unless you absolutely know for sure you’ll be safe. Even then it may not be a given. The ultimate in social distancing.
COVID-19 could be arguably similar.
Everyone should ask themselves this question before venturing out. Do I really want to go out if I don’t have to and aren’t required to do so?
History
Social distancing encompasses much more than staying 6 feet from other humans. It involves modifying the entire environment we live in, and adjusting to new social norms.
How did the term Social Distancing get created anyway? Physical distancing and social distancing are virtually identical in definition. However, social distancing gives the understanding of more than avoiding physical proximity.
The practice of social distancing has been around for millenium. People with leprosy were quarantined in camps that were guarded. The sole purpose was so that those infected couldn’t get out into the general population. The strategy kept healthy people from getting infected.
The most recent comparable pandemic was in the early 20th century. In 1918, there was the Spanish Flu.
However, COVID-19 has some stark differences. For example with the Spanish Flu, only people with symptoms could spread the disease. So if you had symptoms, you simply stayed away from everyone else.
COVID-19 / Coronavirus
With COVID-19 on the other hand, a person can spread the virus up to 2 weeks without symptoms (asymptomatic, or pre-symptoms). And as the virus becomes better understood, we’ve discovered the symptoms can have variations.
While this can be frustrating, this is a brand new virus. No one has had the opportunity to study it in depth. New symptoms are discovered as new information is brought forth.
As a result, new social distancing strategies have been put in place. Typical masks aren’t 100% effective. Only the N95 masks used properly can provide maximum prevention from either spreading or receiving the virus. Mostly medical industry folks are the only ones with those types of masks. The rest of us need to adjust our behavior. Especially when leaving our quarantined area is required. Using the masks we can procure as efficiently as possible.
Different Strategies
COVID-19 could easily be considered as the world’s biggest social experiment.
Not every country has used the same strategy. So far, we have noted three strategies. These strategies have been noted to have varied levels of success.
- United States is using the quarantine stay at home method. Testing mostly those who think they are ill. This requires minimal outings to fetch only essential items. Proper care is required, such as social distancing, masks etc. for any outing.
- South Korea has no restriction on personal location. Lots of testing, detection, prevention, along with extensive monitoring. Testing is often and frequent. In addition, they are closely utilizing cameras. Cameras combined with heat sensor technology help monitor activity. They can sense someone with a fever. Then they back track to see where they’ve been. That allows them to create a net of where the virus has been and could be.
- Sweden took the “herd immunity” approach. This keeps the “at-risk” individuals home. Everyone else is fairly unrestricted. Those who get infected are less likely to die, so the population gains almost a tolerance to the virus. All done with less risk as a whole.
Avoidance
Avoidance is the key word no matter where you live. Using proper social distancing, correctly worn masks, and other options help us to avoid getting infected.
COVID-19 cover photo taken from Public News Service.