Social distancing - a key to contain covid-19

The term ‘social distancing’ focuses on reducing physical contact as a means of interrupting transmission. Indeed, the success of social distancing measures that are implemented over an extended period may depend on ensuring that people maintain social contact - from a distance - with friends, family and colleagues. The objective of social distancing is to reduce the probability of contact between persons carrying an infection, and others who are not infected, so as to minimize disease transmission, morbidity and ultimately mortality. It is evident that the early, decisive, rapid, coordinated and comprehensive implementation of social distancing measures are likely to be more effective in slowing the spread of the virus than delayed actions.