What is social distancing?

We’ve heard it practically everywhere: the key to slowing the spread of the coronavirus is to practice social distancing, but what does that actually mean?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the simple definition is keeping space between yourself and other people outside your home by staying at least 6 feet away. Many essential workers, like health care professionals, food processing workers, or grocery employees, can’t stay home because the rest of us depend on them for our daily needs. To minimize the exposure these hard-working men and women face—and to protect ourselves—it is essential that we do our best to limit the number of people we come in contact with face to face when we must leave the house.

All of us need groceries, and grocery stores remain one of the few essential businesses still open that sees large numbers of people pass through every day. Practicing good social distancing while shopping is not only good etiquette and shows you are being thoughtful of others, but it could save someone’s life.

When in a grocery store, stay two cart lengths away from other customers. Do not bring your family or friends with you— maintaining proper distance becomes especially difficult if groups are trying to navigate tight grocery aisles. Try to shop at off times so the store will be less busy. Bring a list and try to order it by department — this will help you get in and out more quickly and avoid how much walking around the store you have to do. Remember that wearing a mask  is now recommended by the CDC to help keep from spreading germs to others, it is not a substitution for good social distancing practices. Many stores have put tape down on the floor at the checkout to help customers maintain proper distance apart. Look for changes in your store and do your best to adhere to any guidance given— it’s there to help keep all of us safe.

Learn More

This article below originally appeared on the CDC’s website:

Limiting face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

What is social distancing?

Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. To practice social or physical distancing:

• Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people
• Do not gather in groups
• Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings

In addition to everyday steps to prevent COVID-19, keeping space between you and others is one of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to this virus and slowing its spread locally and across the country and world.

When COVID-19 is spreading in your area, everyone should limit close contact with individuals outside your household in indoor and outdoor spaces. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay away from others when possible, even if you have no symptoms. Social distancing is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Why practice social distancing?

COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period. Spread happens when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air and land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19.

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. COVID-19 can live for hours or days on a surface, depending on factors such as sun light and humidity. Social distancing helps limit contact with infected people and contaminated surfaces.

Although the risk of severe illness may be different for everyone, anyone can get and spread COVID-19. Everyone has a role to play in slowing the spread and protecting themselves, their family, and their community.

Stay connected while staying away. It is very important to stay in touch with friends and family that don’t live in your home. Call, video chat, or stay connected using social media. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations and having to socially distance yourself from someone you love can be difficult. Read tips for stress and coping.

What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Quarantine

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Someone in self-quarantine stays separated from others, and they limit movement outside of their home or current place. A person may have been exposed to the virus without knowing it (for example, when traveling or out in the community), or they could have the virus without feeling symptoms. Quarantine helps limit further spread of COVID-19.

Isolation

Isolation is used to separate sick people from healthy people. People who are in isolation should stay home. In the home, anyone sick should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick” bedroom or space and using a different bathroom (if possible).

What should I do if I might have been exposed? If I feel sick? Or have confirmed COVID-19?

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, read about symptoms.