Japan is slowly beating the coronavirus pandemic as daily active cases reported in the last two weeks have been reduced to less than a hundred. One thing that we can attribute this success to is the strict observance of social distancing in public spaces.
What Is Social Distancing?
Social distancing, or physical distancing, is the practice of staying at least 2 meters apart from people outside of homes or in public spaces. The World Health Organization recommends people all over the world to observe physical distancing to avoid exposure to the virus and slow the spread of the infection.
Why Social Distancing Matters
When an infected person talks, sneezes, or coughs, the droplets coming from his/her mouth or nose may carry coronavirus. If a person close to the infected individual catches the droplet, it’s very likely to inhale it into the lungs.
Recent studies have found that unsuspecting infected individuals are also likely to be linked with the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Imagine what social distancing can do. Researches have confirmed that without social distancing, one infected person can infect 2.5 people after five days and 406 people after 306 days. But with social distancing, one infected person can infect 1.25 people after five days and only 15 people after 30 days.
Social Distancing Guidelines
Here are some tips you can follow for practicing social distancing in Japan and anywhere in the world:
Follow the guidance of your local government.
Use mail order medication, if possible.
Use a grocery delivery service.
Buy food through food delivery.
Avoid taking public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis, if possible.
Avoid gatherings of all kinds for now.
Work from home, if possible.
Homeschool, if possible.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover in public spaces.
Always keep at least 2 meters away from other people at grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and public places.
To encourage people in Japan to stay 2 meters away from others at all times, nonprofit PANDAID released some useful graphics to remind people
2m is 1 bicycle apart
2m is 1 tuna apart
2m is 1 tatami apart
2m is 1 Beatles member apart
If we continue observing social distancing everywhere, then there’s a bigger chance that the novel coronavirus will no longer spread any further.
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