What's the difference between social distancing, quarantine and isolation?
Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. To practice social or physical distancing:
• Stay at least six feet (about two arms’ length) from other people...
• Do not gather in groups
• Avoid mass gatherings or events
Basically, it means to limit close personal contact with everyone except your immediate family. Each of us has a role to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting ourselves, our family and our community.
Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Someone in self-quarantine stays separated from others and limits movement outside of their home or current place. A person may have been exposed to the virus without knowing it (when traveling or out in the community), or they could have the virus without feeling symptoms. Quarantine helps limit further spread of COVID-19.
Isolation is used to separate sick people from healthy people. People in isolation should stay home. In the home, anyone sick should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick” bedroom or space and using a different bathroom (if possible).
Of course, it’s a good idea to stay connected, even while staying away from others. It is important to keep in touch with friends and family. Call, video chat or use social media to check in with each other. Everyone reacts differently to stress, and having to socially distance yourself (or quarantine or isolate) from someone you love can be difficult.
• Stay at least six feet (about two arms’ length) from other people...
• Do not gather in groups
• Avoid mass gatherings or events
Basically, it means to limit close personal contact with everyone except your immediate family. Each of us has a role to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting ourselves, our family and our community.
Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Someone in self-quarantine stays separated from others and limits movement outside of their home or current place. A person may have been exposed to the virus without knowing it (when traveling or out in the community), or they could have the virus without feeling symptoms. Quarantine helps limit further spread of COVID-19.
Isolation is used to separate sick people from healthy people. People in isolation should stay home. In the home, anyone sick should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick” bedroom or space and using a different bathroom (if possible).
Of course, it’s a good idea to stay connected, even while staying away from others. It is important to keep in touch with friends and family. Call, video chat or use social media to check in with each other. Everyone reacts differently to stress, and having to socially distance yourself (or quarantine or isolate) from someone you love can be difficult.