How Social Distancing can help flattening the curve

At the end of December, pubic heath officials in China informed WHO that they have a new virus which is highly transmissible among people and causing severe illness in the respiratory system called COVID-19 or Coronavirus. Coronavirus belongs to a family of viruses that causes disease in animals. However, the virus manages to jump to humans and causes cold-like symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue, sneeze….)

How Does COVID-19 Spread?

The infection can spread from person to other through small droplets from the nose and mouth. Simply, being near an infected person who coughs, sneezes or talks can expose you to the infected respiratory droplets or via physical contact like handshaking, or touching contaminated surfaces. In order to decrease transmission of COVID-19, WHO recommends practicing “social distancing” to provide some protection and reduce the risk of the highly contagious virus.

What is meant by social distancing?

Social distancing is the space that we create to reduce the contact with other people to help communities slow down the transmission and spread of contagious illnesses like the coronavirus. Researches have shown that in cities where a disease is spreading, taking strict measures by governments like working from home, shutting down schools, and canceling large gatherings can significantly contain the rapid rate of infections.

Social distancing rules entails:-

• Postpone non-necessary trips.

• Washing your hands frequently.

• Keep 6 feet or about 2 meters away from others.

• Greet others with wave, not handshaking.

• Cancel group gatherings.

• Connect with family and friends by phone or social media.

• Clean and disinfect all your gadgets as phone, laptops, iPod..

• Eat healthy food to raise your immunity.

• Join exercises classes at home.

• Stay out of hospitals unless it is urgent.

• Finally, promote understanding of the pandemic by sharing reliable information.

Social distancing is considered to be one of the most effective ways to flatten the curve. Curve flattening may not mean fewer people get sick in the long run, but fewer people get sick at one time. When a lot of people get infected and sick at the same time our health care facilities will get overwhelmed with overworked staff, not enough beds and ventilators and, medical supplies.