“Social distancing” explained as government switches to "Delay phase" to battle coronavirus

Friday, 13th March 2020, 9:00 am
Updated Friday, 13th March 2020, 9:29 am
This is what you need to know about social distancing and what it means (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

The UK government has now officially switched gears from the "Containment" phase to the "Delay" phase in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus.

As part of this change, the public can potentially expect "social distancing" measures to be introduced.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already advised against gatherings of more than 500 people, while the Republic of Ireland has announced a Lockdown.

Here’s what you need to know about social distancing - and if it can help stop the spread of Covid-19.

What does social distancing mean?

As the government switches tactics to delay the spread of coronavirus rather than contain it, social distancing will be a key part of the plan.

The Delay phase is designed to slow the spread of the virus.

The government believes it would be beneficial to delay the peak phase of the virus to the summer months when there is less pressure on the NHS.

Some businesses may be asked to consider having their employees work from home where possible, and to discourage any unnecessary travel, in order to limit close, prolonged contact with those infected.

If social distancing measures do come into place, public gatherings could also be cancelled, schools may be closed and the public may be advised to avoid restaurants and public transport.

Have other places introduced social distancing?

Other countries affected by the spread of the virus have introduced social distancing measures.

In Europe’s toughest lockdown, the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that all shops apart from food stores and pharmacies are to close, including bars, restaurants, hairdressers, schools, gyms and more.

In China, where the virus originated, there are strict lockdown proceedings with the World Health Organisation saying that China’s containment measures might have saved thousands from being infected.

Aggressive social distancing in China saw cities sealed off, businesses and schools shut down and people being ordered to stay indoors.

Does social distancing help stop the spread of viruses?

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that while there is currently no vaccine or drug available to treat COVID-19, “community-based interventions such as school dismissals, event cancellations, social distancing, and creating employee plans to work remotely can help slow the spread of COVID-19.”

In the past, countries affected by outbreaks of viruses have introduced social distancing measures which have proved successful.

For example, during the 2009 Swine Flu pandemic, which originated in Mexico, the Mexican government closed most of Mexico City's public and private facilities in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.

A study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that the “mandatory school closures and other social distancing measures reduced influenza transmission rates in Mexico”.

Another report from NIH states: “The social distancing measures implemented by the Mexican health authorities in spring 2009 were effective in reducing disease transmission by more than one-third.”

The outcome of how two cities 900 miles apart handled an outbreak tells a similar story about the effectiveness of social distancing.

In 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic, the city of Philadelphia ignored the warnings of influenza among soldiers preparing for World War 1 and went ahead with a march to support the war effort.

The march drew in 200,000 people to watch the procession. Three days later, all 31 of Philadelphia’s hospitals were filled with patients infected by the Spanish flu.

At the end of that week, more than 4,500 were dead from the outbreak. The city would eventually close down, although at that point it was too late.

However, in St. Louis, it was a very different story. The city shut down schools, playgrounds, churches and more, with work shifts spread out and public transport restricted. Public gatherings of more than 20 people were banned.

St. Louis actually had one of the lowest rates of infection of any US city, with only 1,703 deaths over the course of the outbreak. Overall, Philadelphia suffered from 16,000 fatalities.

A study for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America said: “We found that aggressive early intervention was significantly associated with a lower peak of excess mortality.”

The government will announce the outcome of its emergency Cobra meeting later today (12 March).

These are the symptoms of coronavirus (Photo WHO)

Coronavirus Facts:

What is coronavirus?


What caused coronavirus?


How is it spread?


What are the symptoms?


What precautions can be taken?


Should I avoid public places?


What should I do if I feel unwell?


When to call NHS 111
