The global pandemic of COVID-19 has wreaked havoc into the world. From the economy collapsing to the restaurants shutting down, the coronavirus has left its mark on the planet. The spread of this deadly virus can be limited or faltered, if the entire nation comes together, as a community, to stop the transmission.

One way to do this is to follow the social-distancing protocols. The social-distancing guidelines require you to stay at least six feet away from others around you. Moreover, it obligates you to stay at home, unless you absolutely have to leave the house. You can practice social distancing by canceling any large events at your house, limiting the number of people who stay with you, avoid leaving the house for unnecessary reasons, and by frequently washing your hands. In doing so, you can play a crucial role in slowing down the spread of the virus.

Why Is Social Distancing Important?

From the beginning of time, social distancing has played a vital role in stopping the spread of the virus. In fact, the Venetian word “ quarantena ” was invented during the Black Death days, when forced isolation of forty days was imposed to control the spread. Social distancing reduces virus transmission by limiting the exposure of individuals to sickness or illnesses during the spread. It is extremely important to carry out social distancing, as a result of the ensuing reasons:

You can protect yourself

The main reason for fulfilling the requirements of social-distancing is that it can protect you from getting infected by the illness. COVID-19 is an airborne virus, therefore, it can be transmitted without establishing physical contact. To protect yourself from the coronavirus, it is imperative to wear a mask, to frequently and thoroughly wash your hands, and to maintain a distance of at least six feet from the people around you. In doing so, you can reduce or eliminate the risk of getting infected.

You can protect your loved ones

The rapid spread of the coronavirus is largely due to the fact that many individuals who transmitted the virus were asymptomatic. This suggests that despite being infected with the virus, there is a possibility that you will not show symptoms for a period of ten to eighteen days. As a result, if you interact with someone during this window, you can permit the possibility of infecting them as well. Keeping this in mind, it is imperative to practice social distancing protocols, especially if you have a senior citizen or children living at home. As the elders are at the highest risk of catching the disease, it is essential to make sure that you are following all the safety protocols to protect them from the risk of infection.

To implement safety in your home, you can make slight changes to your acts of daily living. For instance, if you are inviting a nurse from a Texas home care company, make sure that they are wearing a mask and disposable gloves. Additionally, you may also check their temperature, before they enter the home, to make sure that they are free from any apparent signs of the virus.

The cases of infection can decreases

The coronavirus has put the normal life on pause. From schools being closed to offices introducing remote work policies, the global pandemic has hindered a lot of operations. Keeping this in mind, it is extremely important to reduce the number of infection cases, so that the country can go back to normal. Essentially, social distancing can flatten the curve. If every individual in the country plays their part in limiting the spread, the cases of the virus can be reduced to zero. As a consequence, the businesses can reopen and the country can resume its typical operations.

Healthcare workers can catch a break!

Healthcare workers have proven to be the real heroes during the pandemic. These individuals have been on the frontlines to treat the patients while risking their own lives. With the cases of the pandemic drastically rising, the duties of the healthcare workers have become never-ending. These individuals work tirelessly for hours to treat the increasing number of patients. Therefore, if you practice social-distancing and subsequently, flatten the curve, you can lift the burden of responsibilities from healthcare workers.

What Else Can You Do?

While staying at home, at all times, is important, it is not entirely practical. Keeping this in mind, it is essential to follow the safety protocols for when you step outside of the house. Here are a few more initiatives that you can take to stop the spread.

• Order groceries through grocery delivery applications 
• If you do have to go out, make sure to wear a face mask and disposable gloves
• Order food in, instead of going to get take out
• Cook at home
• Avoid touching your face
• Avoid physical contact with the people you live with
• Avoid meeting people. Instead, you can use video chatting software programs if you want to talk to a close friend.

How to Avoid Boredom At Home?

For most people, the thought of social-distancing can be scary, especially if you have nothing to do. However, you can make most of your time alone by engaging in the following activities:

• You can finally begin your workout plan
• You can catch up on some light reading
• You can refine your culinary skills
• You can binge-watch your favorite shows
• You can host a virtual movie night
• You can invest in some art therapy 
• You can play board games with your family
• You can play video games with your friends 
• You can start meditating
• You can learn a new skill
• You can schedule regular video calls with friends and loved ones.

Although scientists are working on a vaccine that cures the virus, it is still important to stop the spread until the cure is found. Social distancing is a fundamental way to achieve this objective. So, stay at home, stay six feet away from people, and avoid physical contact at all costs!

For more senior insights, head back to the My Nurse Family blog.