Social Distancing Tips

How do I put social distancing into practice?

Common social distancing measures include: 

• Avoiding unnecessary gatherings and crowded places.
• Limiting contact with people who are at risk (seniors and people in poor health).
• Keeping a distance of 2 meters between other people. 2 meters is approximately 2 arm lengths. 
• Avoid usual greetings such as handshakes, hugs or kisses.

Why should I practice social distancing?

During an outbreak, social distancing has been proven to be an effective method of limiting the spread of a virus or an illness. It only requires a bit of will and determination, and everyone can play an important role to protect the most vulnerable ones by simply staying at home as much as possible.

 

Which habits should I change in order to practice social distancing?

Everything helps! Here are some easy ways you can achieve social distancing:

• Stay as home as much as possible and work from home if you can. This includes getting meals, exercise and entertainment. If you need to go out, avoid doing so during peak hours. 
• Use technology to keep in touch with your loved ones. Video calls are a good way to communicate if the technology is available to you. 
• Instead of handshakes, hugs or kisses, wave instead.
• Even though children are not part of high-risk groups, play dates should not be scheduled.

How is social distancing different from self-isolation?

As opposed to social distancing, which is highly recommended for everyone, self-isolation is meant for individuals with no symptoms, but with possible COVID-19 exposure, not necessarily everyone. In self-isolation, distancing measures are stricter to prevent the spread of the disease. Self-isolation is usually recommended for 14 days, whereas social distancing is meant to be an ongoing modification in lifestyle for everyone. 

To learn more about self-isolation, read our article.

Keep in touch

Remember that social distancing is mostly a physical measure. There are ways to maintain emotional and social connections with your loved ones, even during these trying times.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your health and medication, your pharmacist remains available to answer them over the phone.