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During theCOVID-19 pandemic,social distancing measures were implemented nearly worldwide in order to slow the spread of the disease.[1] This article details the history of the social distancing measures, a list of countries implementing them, when they were implemented, and other details about the measures. Except where stated otherwise, dates in this article refer to the year 2020.
Social distancing measures on public groundThe support-bubble concept used inNew Zealand
Social distancing, or physical distancing,[2][3][4] is a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures taken toprevent the spread of acontagious disease by maintaining a physical distance between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other.[2][5] It involved keeping a distance of six feet or two meters, with a minimum of one meter or 3 feet, from others and avoiding gathering together in large groups.[6][7][8]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic,social distancing and related measures were recommended by several governments as alternatives to an enforced quarantine of heavily affected areas[8]. According toUNESCO monitoring, more than a hundred countries implemented nationwideschool closures in response to COVID-19, impacting over half the world's student population.[9] In theUnited Kingdom, the government advised the public to avoid public spaces, and cinemas and theatres voluntarily closed to encourage the government's message.[10]
With many people at the time disbelieving that COVID-19 is any worse than theseasonal flu,[11] it was difficult to convince the public to voluntarily adopt social distancing practices. InBelgium, media reported arave was attended by at least300 before it was broken up by local authorities. InFrance, teens making nonessential trips were fined up toUS$150. Beaches were closed inFlorida andAlabama to disperse partygoers during spring break.[12] Weddings were broken up in New Jersey and an 8;00p.m.curfew was imposed inNewark. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania were the first states to adopt coordinated social distancing policies which closed down non-essential businesses and restricted large gatherings. Shelter in place orders inCalifornia were extended to the entire state on 19 March. On the same day,Texas declared a public disaster and imposed statewide restrictions.[13]
These preventive measures such as social-distancing andself-isolation prompted the widespread closure ofprimary,secondary, andpost-secondary schools in more than 120 countries. As of 23 March 2020, more than 1.2 billion learners were out of school due toschool closures in response to COVID-19.[9] Given low rates of COVID-19 symptoms among children, the effectiveness of school closures has been called into question.[14] Even when school closures are temporary, it carries high social and economic costs.[15] However, the significance of children in spreading COVID-19 is unclear.[16][17] While the full impact of school closures during the coronavirus pandemic are not yet known, UNESCO advises that school closures have negative impacts on local economies and on learning outcomes for students.[18]
It was suggested that improving ventilation and managing exposure duration could reduce transmission risk.[19][20]
While enjoying broad support among epidemiologists, the social distancing measures are at times politically controversial. Intellectual support for the opposition tends to come from writers of other fields, although there are a few heterodox epidemiologists.[21]
^Epperly DE, Rinehart KR, Caney DN (2020). "COVID-19 Aerosolized Viral Loads, Environment, Ventilation, Masks, Exposure Time, Severity, And Immune Response: A Pragmatic Guide Of Estimates".medRxiv10.1101/2020.10.03.20206110.
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