Physical, not social distancing in the battle against Covid-19
During these trying times, it is more pertinent than ever that we remain socially connected through physical distancing, not social distancing.
When I first heard about social distancing, I was taken aback to find out that in these trying times, we would be encouraging people to distance ourselves from others socially. It was only after skimming through the article that I realized what it meant was to distance ourselves from other people physically. To better explain my initial concerns, as a social scientist, the concept of social distance refers to the degree by which individuals and groups feel connected with or similar to other individuals and groups within various social settings. Hence, tightly knit, inclusive, and resilient communities are formed by reducing social distance and not increasing it.
Although the World Health Organization adopted the term social distancing in the past, they are now recommending the use of the term ‘physical distancing’ to correctly highlight the need to increase physical, and not the social distance between members of society. During these trying times, it is more pertinent than ever that we remain socially connected, and this is made possible due to the plethora of virtual means available. More than ever, there is a pressing need to explore novel ways of staying connected to others.
For example, hosting virtual karaoke sessions may now be an option since physical karaoke locations are closed, and physical contact with others is ill-advised. Engaging in online courses and games could also be an excellent way to spend time with your friends and family. Or hosting online meetups just to share everyday anecdotes with people you care about. While this may take some getting used to, and the fact that an electronic device needs to be present could be cumbersome, such is the reality we may be facing in the current and foreseeable future, at least until the situation stabilizes.
Flattening the curve of potential infections is and should be the top priority in our war against COVID-19, but this can only be done through physical distancing. However, humans are by their very nature, social beings, and need to feel connected and in tune with their social circles. To that end, our behaviours need to adapt rapidly to embrace the physical distancing measures implemented, but also to ensure that we do not feel socially isolated. Only then can we successfully navigate these challenging times to come. Stay safe, but also stay social!