Coronvirus FAQ: What Is Social Distancing?

Social distancing means increasing physical space between yourself and those around you in order to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Health officials and professionals recommend staying at least six feet apart to reduce the risk of transmission.

What Is Social Distancing?

While social distancing is largely an individual choice and responsibility, several cities have created measures to implement the policy — including banning crowded venues or requiring restaurants to limit the amount of customers to provide that extra cushion of space. Other examples of social distancing include working remote, taking classes online instead of in person and avoiding visiting friends or family members that do not live in your immediate household.

“Some may look at [the social distancing guidelines] … and say, well, maybe we’ve gone a little bit too far,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said during a White House press conference. “They were well thought out. And the thing that I want to reemphasize … when you’re dealing with an emerging infectious diseases outbreak, you are always behind where you think you are if you think that today reflects where you really are.”