Health

Got questions about physical distancing? Here's what you need to know

   We’ve all heard a lot about physical distancing(formerly called social
   distancing) to slow the spread of COVID-19, and most of us get the gist
   of what that means. But it’s still confusing to figure out which
   activities are OK and which ones aren’t. Here’s what you need to know.

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Experts offer advice about keeping others safe without giving up everything
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   We've all heard a lot about physical distancing (formerly known as
   social distancing) to slow the spread of COVID-19, and most of us get
   the gist of what that means.

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   Here's what you need to know.

How to do physical distancing, in a nutshell

   Physical distancing involves:
     * Interacting with as few people as possible. Typically, that means
       avoiding all people you don't live with, including family members
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   others that's more than 10 minutes in public.

   It used to be called social distancing, but on March 20, the World
   Health Organization changed its preferred term to physical distancing,
   noting that while maintaining a physical distance was essential, that
   "doesn't mean that socially we have to disconnect from our loved ones."

   Kate Mulligan, assistant professor at the Dalla Lana school of public
   health at the University of Toronto, who had advocated for it to be
   called physical distancing even before that, said staying in touch with
   others at this time is actually vital.
   (CBC News)

Everyone should do physical distancing, but not everyone needs to
self-isolate

   Mulligan describes physical distancing as a "civic responsibility"
   that's for everybody.

   But there are a huge range of physical distancing measures, and not
   everyone needs to go to the extremes.

   Self-isolation is the strictest form of physical distancing when people
   can't leave home even for groceries (they need to be delivered). People
   are being asked to self-isolate if they have:
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   However, while maintaining a safe distance from others, healthy people
   can still continue to do things that are essential, such as grocery
   shopping, walking the dog, or getting physical exercise.

   That said, the recommendation is increasingly to do those things alone,
   not with people in your household.

   Watch: How to social distance at the grocery store:

How to social distance in the grocery store

   The National
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   (CBC News)

What kinds of social interactions can we have, then?

   Activities with people you live with are fine. As mentioned, an outdoor
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   Mulligan also recommends connecting online via video chats or calling
   or texting others.
     * Grocery store staff fed up with 'social' shoppers who flout
       pandemic rules

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   as an elderly neighbour or relative.

   "Turn your social needs toward altruism and community care and mutual
   aid," she said, " and you're going to feel really good and you're going
   to be helping."

Will governments and individuals need to tighten social distancing strategies
further?

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