In sense of greeting or showing affection to a friend or an acquaintance after a long absence, people often shake hands, hug or kiss cheeks. Oftentimes, people find themselves among friends having fun, chatting, laughing their heads out or outgoing. On market days, people mostly crowd at market places purchasing goods as well as during public holidays, people are mostly found crowded at beaches having fun. But in response to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), health officials are asking us to do something that does not come naturally to our very social species: stay away from each other.
The disease spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching the objects and surfaces then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. In view of this, health workers had to call in for social distancing to curb the spread of the virus.
Social distancing can be explained as the act of maintaining a physical distance between people and objects especially during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection. In curbing the spread of the virus, one has to distance him/herself from others and objects.
“The coronavirus spreading around the world is calling on us to suppress our profoundly human hand wired impulses for connection: seeing our friends getting together in groups or teaching each other”, said Nicholas Christakis.
But of all this, we still ought to know that social distancing doesn’t mean emotional distancing. Although we may not be able to be with each other right now, we can still be there for each other. With the help of mobile phones and other mechanisms, we can still stay in touch with friends and relatives while at home socially distancing. We also have to make sure we spend the best time with our family while at home.
Moreover, social distancing helps us to protect ourselves and protect others as well. If a person doesn’t go out where he/she will find him/herself among crowds, he/she reduces the risk of contracting the virus as well a spreading it. This then tends out to slow the transmission of the virus.
Also, people often find themselves busy with work or other activities but in the period of socially distancing, one gets time to relax and reconnect with him/herself. One gets time to tackle activities that needs to be done while at home, watch a movie he/she has been longing to watch, cook a desired dish or learn a recipe. This helps protect one’s solitude and protect that of others as well.
While socially distancing, one needs to give much attention to his/her health. One needs to eat a balanced diet and always workout. This helps to keep the body in good health otherwise, one will not be able to keep the mind strong and clear.
One can also start writing about how his/her day has been going, his/her intentions while socially distancing and after the social distancing period and who knows, one might even end up writing a book.
As well, one can start learning something new. This can be done by taking a course online or learning a new language. One can also start blogging or podcasting as well as reading the book one has intended reading for long.
Despite the fact that staying away from our very own species is something that doesn’t come naturally, we ought to know that it is but for a period of time and we can make the best out of it.
Photo Source: Kuulpeeps
