Social distancing a must for all those not in isolation
By GILLIAN SLADE on March 24, 2020.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade While people who have been travelling or have symptoms of COVID-19 are required to “self-isolate,” everyone is required to practise “social distancing.” Social distancing limits the number of people you are in close contact with and reduces the risk of getting sick. Social distancing does not mean you need to remain inside your house but you do need to keep two metres apart from others except the people who live in your home, unless one of them is in self-isolation, according to Alberta Health. If you go for a walk or to buy groceries, or for medical supplies and other essential needs, keep two metres apart. Try to limit the number of times you leave your home to run errands and choose times of day when there will be fewer people around. You may want to consider ordering groceries online and having them delivered. Going for a walk in your neighbourhood or park is a good thing as long as you maintain the two-metre distance from others you meet up with. Do your best to avoid meeting lots of people in enclosed places and avoid overcrowding in elevators. It is important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds after you have touched surfaces that others in the community have touched. A medical face mask can be important in certain circumstances. If you are healthy, medical masks are not recommended as they do not provide full protection and can create a false sense of security, says Alberta Health. If you are sick, wearing a mask helps prevent spreading the illness to other people. “This is why people who have a cough or respiratory symptoms must wear masks and wash their hands when visiting an emergency department or clinic,” says Alberta Health. 11-10
