Coronavirus: What is 'social distancing'? What are the restrictions?
As Australian cases of coronavirus continue to increase, the government has introduced stricter social distancing measures. Here’s what you need to know.
As Australia faces an unprecedented health crisis over the coronavirus pandemic, strict new social distancing measures have been introduced – but just what does social distancing mean?
It's a term many of us would have been unfamiliar with before the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan earlier this year.
Now, with the virus spreading around the world, it can be confusing to know what measures we should follow.
Here's everything you need to know about social distancing is, why it works and the measures being taken in Australia to prevent the coronavirus spread.
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WHAT IS SOCIAL DISTANCING?
In a nutshell, social distancing is taking steps to avoid spreading an illness – in this case, coronavirus – by having less contact between people.
This can be done by keeping a minimum distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and other people as recommended by the Australian Department of Health.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended people stand a minimum of one metre apart in public.
This is because standing any closer to another person who then coughs means "you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease", WHO has warned.
Social distancing also includes measures such as not going out in public unless necessary and taking steps to prevent coronavirus being transmitted inside the home.
According to social distancing expert Dr Thomas Chin-Chia Tsai, it is all about "decreasing the frequency of interactions".
"Avoid situations where there are crowds. That doesn’t mean that people have to go into self-isolation, unless they have actual symptoms and need to self-quarantine," he told The Guardian.
"It’s OK to go for a walk outside. You can still get takeout from restaurants. If you’re asymptomatic, you can still maintain your family relationships as you otherwise would – just avoid larger groups."
Still unsure? Here's what social distancing measures Australians must follow.
WHERE CAN'T I GO?
If you're sick and have been diagnosed with coronavirus or are at risk of having it, the answer to this is simple: don't go anywhere. You should be self-isolating at home.
For the rest of us, new measures introduced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison today mean you are not allowed to go to outdoor gatherings of 500 people or more and indoor gatherings of 100 or more.
This social distancing rule applies to cinemas, restaurants, bars and sport games.
However schools, public transport, workplaces, hospitals, aged care and other health services, jails, courts, tribunals and parliaments are exempt from this.
Shopping centres, supermarkets and other retail stores were also not included in this social distancing measure, Mr Morrison said.
SOCIAL DISTANCING AT HOME
According to the Australian Department of Health, people should practise good hygiene and limit physical contact inside their homes.
This includes avoiding hand shaking and kissing when possible (although as chief medical officer Brendan Murphy pointed out, close family members can still do this) and cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.
People should also make sure surfaces in the home are regularly disinfected, maintain good ventilation, visit supermarkets "sparingly" and reconsider non-essential travel and outings – think birthday parties, trips to shopping centres or other busy places.
If someone in the house is diagnosed with coronavirus they should isolate themselves in a separate room from the rest of the home and use a separate bathroom if possible.
Carers for the sick person should be kept to a minimum and both the carer and sick person should wear a mask and maintain a 1.5 metre distance whenever possible.
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SOCIAL DISTANCING AT WORK
Social distancing at work means first and foremost if you have coronavirus or suspect you could have it, self-isolate at home instead.
Otherwise Australians are being encouraged to work from home if possible and postpone any work-related large meetings, gatherings or non-essential travel.
If you still must go into work, a distance of 1.5 metres should be maintained whenever possible, workers should wash hands regularly and eat lunch at their desks if they can.
Workplaces should provide hand sanitiser for all staff, surfaces should be regularly disinfected and good ventilation should be maintained.
SOCIAL DISTANCING AT SCHOOLS
The same first rule for social distancing at work applies at school: if you suspect your child has coronavirus or if they are showing flu or cold-like symptoms, do not send them to school.
Despite calls for them to close, Australia's social distancing measures do not include shutting down schools yet and parents are being discouraged from pulling their children out of classrooms unless they are unwell.
Instead, schools have been instructed not to hold any large gatherings such as assemblies and carnivals, and to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres between children whenever possible.
Teachers and school staff are also instructing students to wash their hands regularly, keep surfaces disinfected, classrooms well-ventilated and hold lessons outdoors if possible.
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SOCIAL DISTANCING WHILE TRAVELLING
According to the Department of Health, you should avoid any unnecessary travel and if possible travel outside of public transport peak hours.
You should try as best as possible to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres between you and others, avoid touching surfaces and your face.
After travelling on public transport you should wash your hands thoroughly or use hand sanitiser.
The Prime Minister has also advised Australians not to travel in the front seat of a taxi or Uber and for drivers to keep car windows open to ventilate the space.
DOES SOCIAL DISTANCING WORK?
Absolutely. Social distancing has been shown to be incredibly effective in preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Social distancing measures have also been used in previous pandemics such as the 1918 Spanish flu crisis or 2014 ebola outbreak.
China's reduction in its number of coronavirus cases has been credited to its strict quarantining of people in outbreak areas.
Countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore have also managed to "flatten the curve" with their social distancing measures.
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