Social Distancing: Difference between revisions
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
One way of limiting the spread of an [[Communicable Diseases|infectious disease]], for instance, Covid-19, is to practice | One way of limiting the spread of an [[Communicable Diseases|infectious disease]], for instance, Covid-19, is to practice social distancing. This is not a new concept, as most societies have been aware of the value of keeping away from people who are suffering from an infection for many generations. | ||
The objective is to reduce transmission, delaying the epidemic peak, reducing the size of the epidemic peak, and spreading cases over a longer time to relieve pressure on the healthcare system<ref name=":0" />. | The objective is to reduce transmission, delaying the epidemic peak, reducing the size of the epidemic peak, and spreading cases over a longer time to relieve pressure on the healthcare system<ref name=":0" />. | ||
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It has been suggested that maintaining a distance of 1 to 2 metres from another individual results in a marked reduction in transmission of most flu virus strains, including COVID-19. | It has been suggested that maintaining a distance of 1 to 2 metres from another individual results in a marked reduction in transmission of most flu virus strains, including COVID-19. | ||
In practice, this means that avoiding close proximity to other people will aid in slowing the spread of infectious diseases. | In practice, this means that avoiding close proximity to other people will aid in slowing the spread of infectious diseases. Social distancing is one of the non-pharmaceutical infection control actions that can stop or slow down the spread of a highly contagious disease<ref>Ahmed F, Zviedrite N, Uzicanin A | ||
Effectiveness of workplace social distancing measures in reducing influenza transmission: a systematic review. | Effectiveness of workplace social distancing measures in reducing influenza transmission: a systematic review. | ||
BMC Public Health. 2018 Apr 18;18(1):518. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5446-1. | BMC Public Health. 2018 Apr 18;18(1):518. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5446-1. | ||
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== How does it work? == | == How does it work? == | ||
The virus that causes COVID-19 is currently spreading easily from person-to-person. | The virus that causes COVID-19 is currently spreading easily from person-to-person. When a healthy person comes into contact with respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes of an infected person, they are can catch the infection<ref>[https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses "Q&A on coronaviruses"]. ''World Health Organization (WHO)''. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020</ref><ref>Rothan HA, Byrareddy SN (February 2020). [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896841120300469 "The epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak"]. ''Journal of Autoimmunity'': 102433.</ref>. | ||
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that "COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets and fomites during close unprotected contact between an infector and infectee"<ref>World Health Organisation. Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf. Accessed 16 March 2020. </ref>. A fomite is an object or material which is likely to carry infection, such as clothes, utensils, and furniture. Therefore, transmission of the infection can be avoided by staying away from other people as well as from touching infected fomites. | |||
Social distancing aims to decrease or interrupt transmission of COVID-19 in a population<ref name=":0">Wilder-Smith A, Freedman DO | Social distancing aims to decrease or interrupt transmission of COVID-19 in a population<ref name=":0">Wilder-Smith A, Freedman DO | ||
Isolation, quarantine, social distancing and community containment: pivotal role for old-style public health measures in the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. | Isolation, quarantine, social distancing and community containment: pivotal role for old-style public health measures in the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. | ||
J Travel Med. 2020 Feb 13. pii: taaa020. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa020. [Epub ahead of print] | J Travel Med. 2020 Feb 13. pii: taaa020. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa020. [Epub ahead of print] | ||
</ref> by minimising contact between potentially infected individuals and healthy individuals | </ref> by minimising contact between potentially infected individuals and healthy individuals, or between population groups with high rates of transmission and population groups with no or low levels of transmission. | ||
{{#ev:youtube|6Ooz1GZsQ70}} | {{#ev:youtube|6Ooz1GZsQ70}} | ||
== How effective is it? == | == How effective is it? == | ||
Studies on outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as the flu, suggest that social distancing is an effective way to reduce the number of people infected provided that the measures are thorough and that they are continued for a suitable length of time<ref>Maharaj S, Kleczkowski A (2012). [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3563464 "Controlling epidemic spread by social distancing: Do it well or not at all"]. ''BMC Public Health''. '''12''' (1): 679.</ref>. Studies on the 1918 influenza epidemic, comparing different states in the USA, demonstrated the benefits of applying social distancing<ref>Hatchett RJ, Mecher CE, Lipsitch M (2007). [http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/104/18/7582 "Public health interventions and epidemic intensity during the 1918 influenza pandemic"]. ''Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A''. '''104''' (18): 7582–7587</ref><ref>Bootsma MC, Ferguson NM (2007). [http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/104/18/7588 "The effect of public health measures on the 1918 influenza pandemic in U.S. cities"]. ''Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A''. '''104''' (18): 7588–7593</ref>. | |||
Studies | |||
A recent, systematic review by Fong et al., (2020) "found some evidence from observational and simulation studies to support the effectiveness of social distancing measures during influenza pandemics. Timely implementation and high compliance in the community would be useful factors for the success of these interventions."<ref>Fong MW, Gao H, Wong JY, Xiao J, Shiu EY, Ryu S, Cowling BJ. [https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0995_article#suggestedcitation Early Release-Nonpharmaceutical Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhealthcare Settings—Social Distancing Measures.] Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2020; 26(5). </ref> | |||
[[File:Covid-19-curves-graphic-social-v3.gif|frameless|640x640px]] | [[File:Covid-19-curves-graphic-social-v3.gif|frameless|640x640px]] | ||
Revision as of 20:12, 16 March 2020
Original Editor - Wendy Walker.
Top Contributors - Wendy Walker, Nicole Hills, Admin, Kim Jackson, Wanda van Niekerk, Lucinda hampton, Nupur Smit Shah, Tarina van der Stockt and Vidya Acharya
Introduction[edit | edit source]
One way of limiting the spread of an infectious disease, for instance, Covid-19, is to practice social distancing. This is not a new concept, as most societies have been aware of the value of keeping away from people who are suffering from an infection for many generations.
The objective is to reduce transmission, delaying the epidemic peak, reducing the size of the epidemic peak, and spreading cases over a longer time to relieve pressure on the healthcare system[1].
What does Social Distancing Involve?[edit | edit source]
It is an action taken to minimise contact with other individuals.
It has been suggested that maintaining a distance of 1 to 2 metres from another individual results in a marked reduction in transmission of most flu virus strains, including COVID-19.
In practice, this means that avoiding close proximity to other people will aid in slowing the spread of infectious diseases. Social distancing is one of the non-pharmaceutical infection control actions that can stop or slow down the spread of a highly contagious disease[2].
How does it work?[edit | edit source]
The virus that causes COVID-19 is currently spreading easily from person-to-person. When a healthy person comes into contact with respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes of an infected person, they are can catch the infection[3][4].
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that "COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets and fomites during close unprotected contact between an infector and infectee"[5]. A fomite is an object or material which is likely to carry infection, such as clothes, utensils, and furniture. Therefore, transmission of the infection can be avoided by staying away from other people as well as from touching infected fomites.
Social distancing aims to decrease or interrupt transmission of COVID-19 in a population[1] by minimising contact between potentially infected individuals and healthy individuals, or between population groups with high rates of transmission and population groups with no or low levels of transmission.
How effective is it?[edit | edit source]
Studies on outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as the flu, suggest that social distancing is an effective way to reduce the number of people infected provided that the measures are thorough and that they are continued for a suitable length of time[6]. Studies on the 1918 influenza epidemic, comparing different states in the USA, demonstrated the benefits of applying social distancing[7][8].
A recent, systematic review by Fong et al., (2020) "found some evidence from observational and simulation studies to support the effectiveness of social distancing measures during influenza pandemics. Timely implementation and high compliance in the community would be useful factors for the success of these interventions."[9]
Methods of Social Distancing[edit | edit source]
Prohibition of Mass Gatherings[edit | edit source]
Cancellation of events which involve large numbers of people gathering together, such as
- sports games
- work conferences
- theatre productions
- cinemas
Closure of community facilities[edit | edit source]
These facilities can include
- swimming pools
- gyms
- youth clubs
- community centres
Workplace Closure[edit | edit source]
- closure of non-essential workplaces
- of schools
- of colleges and universities
Self-shielding[edit | edit source]
- individuals limit face-to-face contacts
- individuals avoid public places
- individuals avoid public transport
Shut down/reduce Public Transport[edit | edit source]
Is Social Distancing a new concept?[edit | edit source]
No, it has been around for many generations and in many different regions of the world.
Resources[edit | edit source]
- The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Considerations relating to social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 epidemic
- UK Government Information on COVID-19 and Social Distancing.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wilder-Smith A, Freedman DO Isolation, quarantine, social distancing and community containment: pivotal role for old-style public health measures in the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. J Travel Med. 2020 Feb 13. pii: taaa020. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa020. [Epub ahead of print]
- ↑ Ahmed F, Zviedrite N, Uzicanin A Effectiveness of workplace social distancing measures in reducing influenza transmission: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2018 Apr 18;18(1):518. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5446-1.
- ↑ "Q&A on coronaviruses". World Health Organization (WHO). 11 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020
- ↑ Rothan HA, Byrareddy SN (February 2020). "The epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak". Journal of Autoimmunity: 102433.
- ↑ World Health Organisation. Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf. Accessed 16 March 2020.
- ↑ Maharaj S, Kleczkowski A (2012). "Controlling epidemic spread by social distancing: Do it well or not at all". BMC Public Health. 12 (1): 679.
- ↑ Hatchett RJ, Mecher CE, Lipsitch M (2007). "Public health interventions and epidemic intensity during the 1918 influenza pandemic". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104 (18): 7582–7587
- ↑ Bootsma MC, Ferguson NM (2007). "The effect of public health measures on the 1918 influenza pandemic in U.S. cities". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104 (18): 7588–7593
- ↑ Fong MW, Gao H, Wong JY, Xiao J, Shiu EY, Ryu S, Cowling BJ. Early Release-Nonpharmaceutical Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhealthcare Settings—Social Distancing Measures. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2020; 26(5).
