* Physical distancing measures could reduce new Covid-19 cases by 13% By Andrea Kane, CNN -- Updated 1951 GMT (0351 HKT) July 16, 2020 These social distancing tips can help you stay safe outside These social distancing tips can help you stay safe outside JUST WATCHED These social distancing tips can help you stay safe outside Replay -- (16 Videos) These social distancing tips can help you stay safe outside She doesn't know her grandson died during the pandemic -- Azar explains how first vaccine doses will be distributed in US How social media sites are tackling vaccine misinformation Nurses care for a COVID-19 positive patient at UMass Memorial Hospital -- Florida police raid home of former Covid-19 scientist (CNN)Physical distancing measures can help slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to a new analysis out of the United States and the United Kingdom. -- convenient" they might be, are based on flawed data and should not be thought of as conclusive, but rather suggestive. Social distancing means standing 6 feet apart. Here's what that actually looks like Social distancing means standing 6 feet apart. Here's what that actually looks like Social distancing means standing 6 feet apart. Here's what that actually looks like With currently almost 13.5 million confirmed cases worldwide and a lack of effective treatment or a vaccine, "the most pragmatic recommendation has been to advise physical distancing (referred to by some as social distancing) to minimize person-to-person transmission with a view to flattening the epidemic curve," wrote the study authors, led by Dr. Nazrul Islam, Oxford University physician-epidemiologist and medical -- So the researchers gathered and analyzed information on daily reported cases from 149 countries or regions both before and after five different physical or social distancing measures were put into place. Read More The measures were: school closures, workplace closures, public -- Real-world data: pros and cons They found that on average, any physical distancing measure was associated with an overall reduction in Covid-19 incidence of 13% over the study period. Restriction on mass gatherings, in combination with -- with a decrease in Covid-19 incidence, they reported in a study published Thursday in the BMJ. Social distancing and masks reduce risk of getting Covid-19, review finds Social distancing and masks reduce risk of getting Covid-19, review finds Social distancing and masks reduce risk of getting Covid-19, review finds On the other hand, closing public transport was not associated with any -- together of antibody testing from testing for active disease -- all of which weaken the associations that can be drawn. Although the study provides support for physical distancing, it "cannot be definitive for the reasons outlined." But, he added, the measures probably are effective.