COVID-19: Social Distancing

Q & A:

What is social distancing?

COVID-19 is spread from person to person, typically through respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze but also through close contact with infected individuals. People may also spread the virus before they show any symptoms. That’s why we need to stop the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing.

Steven Choi, MD, FAAP, vice president and chief quality officer for Yale New Haven Health and Yale School of Medicine, said there are multiple ways to practice social distancing. Two key components to social distancing are to limit the number of people who gather together and to make sure there’s enough space between those individuals. 

What if I got vaccinated?

Even if you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you still need to practice proper prevention measures. These vaccines are not 100% effective, which means there is still a small chance you can get COVID-19 and then pass it to others. The latest recommendations from the CDC state fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors or indoors unless in a crowded area.

Can kids play with their friends?

It might be safer playing outdoors rather than in a large indoor area, like a school gym. But it’s also difficult to measure the risk of playing outdoors when those locations are crowded, and those 12 and under have not gotten vaccinated yet. To keep kids safe, families should maintain social distancing and wear masks if they see other families. 

What is community transmission?

Community transmission occurs when a disease, such as COVID-19, is transmitted within and throughout a community, rather than just from a high-risk area or population. For example, instead of getting the illness by traveling to China or Italy, you can become infected now from virtually anywhere in the U.S.

I keep hearing the term “flatten the curve.” What does that mean?

When the number of COVID-19 cases goes up, it results in a sharp rise if mapped out over time. When there’s an overwhelming surge of patients to hospitals during a pandemic, we can help “flatten the curve” by slowing down the spread of cases and staggering the number of patients who need acute hospital care.

Enlarge image

How important is testing?

Testing is absolutely critical for this battle, especially if you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19. Yale New Haven Health has multiple public testing sites for people who have COVID-19 symptoms and for those who are asymptomatic and do not show symptoms. You can find a testing location and schedule a test here.

What should you do if someone in your home gets sick?

The CDC says most people who contract the virus can recover at home. But everyone should monitor themselves for worsening symptoms. Precautions should be taken to keep other family members safe. The person who is sick should use a separate bedroom and bathroom if possible. Surfaces and other common household areas should be disinfected while wearing disposable gloves. They will also need to self-isolate as long as they’re experiencing symptoms. Check the CDC website for the latest guidelines.