Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures are implemented nearly worldwide in order to slow the spread of the disease. This article is a history of the social distancing measures, and a list of countries implementing it, when it is implemented, and details of the measures.

Background
Social distancing measures on public ground

Social distancing, or physical distancing,[1][2][3] is a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures taken to prevent the spread of a contagious disease by maintaining a physical distance between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other.[1][4] It involves keeping a distance of six feet or two meters from others and avoiding gathering together in large groups.[5][6]

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and related measures were emphasised by several governments as alternatives to an enforced quarantine of heavily affected areas. According to UNESCO monitoring, more than a hundred countries have implemented nationwide school closures in response to COVID-19, impacting over half the world's student population.[7] In the United Kingdom, the government advised the public to avoid public spaces, and cinemas and theatres voluntarily closed to encourage the government's message.[8]

With many people disbelieving that COVID-19 is any worse than the seasonal flu,[9] it has been difficult to convince the public—especially teens and young adults—to voluntarily adopt social distancing practices. In Belgium, media reported a rave was attended by at least 300 before it was broken up by local authorities. In France, teens making nonessential trips are fined up to US$150. Beaches were closed in Florida and Alabama to disperse partygoers during spring break.[10] Weddings were broken up in New Jersey and an 8 p.m. curfew was imposed in Newark. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania were the first states to adopt coordinated social distancing policies which closed down non-essential businesses and restricted large gatherings. Shelter in place orders in California were extended to the entire state on 19 March. On the same day Texas declared a public disaster and imposed statewide restrictions.[11]

These preventive measures such as social-distancing and self-isolation prompted the widespread closure of primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools in more than 120 countries. As of 23 March 2020, more than 1.2 billion learners were out of school due to school closures in response to COVID-19.[7] Given low rates of COVID-19 symptoms among children, the effectiveness of school closures has been called into question.[12] Even when school closures are temporary, it carries high social and economic costs.[13] However, the significance of children in spreading COVID-19 is unclear.[14][15] While the full impact of school closures during the coronavirus pandemic are not yet known, UNESCO advises that school closures have negative impacts on local economies and on learning outcomes for students.[16]

In early March 2020, the sentiment "Stay The Fuck Home" was coined by Florian Reifschneider, a German engineer and was quickly echoed by notable celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande[17][18] and Busy Philipps[19] in hopes of reducing and delaying the peak of the outbreak. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram also joined the campaign with similar hashtags, stickers and filters under #staythefhome, #stayhome, #staythefuckhome and began trending across social media.[20][21][22][23] The website claims to have reached about two million people online and says the text has been translated into 17 languages.[23]

Afghanistan

Australia
Social distancing signs at shops in Brisbane.
  • 20 March: Restrictions on non-essential events.[25]
    • Non-essential indoor gatherings of greater than 100 people banned.
    • Outdoor events with more than 500 attendees banned.
  • 22 March: Restrictions on social gatherings and 'non-essential' businesses.[25]
    • Facilities restricted from opening: Pubs, registered and licensed clubs (excluding bottle shops attached to these venues), hotels (excluding accommodation); gyms and indoor sporting venues; cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, and nightclubs; restaurants and cafes were limited to takeaway and/or home delivery; religious gatherings, places of worship or funerals (in enclosed spaces and other than very small groups and where the ‘1 person per 4sqm’ (40 sq. ft.) rule applies).
  • 29 March: Restriction on public gatherings to two people.[25]

China
  • 23 January: Travel from Wuhan prohibited.[25]
  • 29 January: People ordered to stay home unless necessary.[25]
  • 4 February: all higher education moved online.[25]

Denmark
  • 13 March: All non-essential public services closed, including schools and day cares.[25]
  • 17 March: Gatherings of more than 10 people banned.[25]

Germany
  • 16 March: Non-essential public services closed.[25]
  • 22 March: Public gatherings banned.[25] Curfews (with exceptions for certain essential activities) implemented in 5 of the 16 federal states. Entry-ban for non-residents (including German citizens with residence in another federal state) implemented in an additional 2 of the 16 federal states.[26][27]

Indonesia
Muslims in Indonesia pray in congregation while imposing to strict protocols during the global pandemic. Physical distancing and the wearing of masks in public is mandatory in Indonesia during the COVID-19 outbreak, including in places of worship
Main article: 2020 Indonesia large-scale social restrictions
  • 15 March: President Joko Widodo has called upon for all Indonesians to exercise social distancing measures, with some regional leaders who have already closed down schools and public places.[28] In a statement the following day, he stated that he was not going for a full lockdown and lightly criticised regional leaders who did implement lockdown.[29]
  • 31 March: President Joko Widodo signed the Government Law Regulation No. 21/2020, which regulated large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), allowing regional governments to restrict the movement of people and goods in and out of their respective localities provided they had received permission from the relevant ministry (in this case the Ministry of Health, under Terawan Putranto). The law also defined a "minimal" restriction as including school and work holidays, limitations on physical worship, and limitations on public gatherings. At the same time, Presidential Decision 11/2020 was also signed, declaring a national disaster. Both laws were based on the Law No. 6 of 2018 on Medical Quarantines, which had provisions for PSBB.[30][31][32]

Netherlands
  • 12 March: Gatherings of more than 100 people banned.[25]
  • 13 March: Prison visitations limited to legal affairs.[25]
  • 15 March: All food and beverage outlets, bars, cafes, restaurants, gyms, saunas, sex clubs and coffee shops required to close, except for takeaway and delivery services.[25] Schools closed.
  • 17 March: All education services closed.[25]
  • 23 March: Visits to youth, disability and psychiatric care restricted.[25]
  • 23 March: Ban on non-essential outdoors activities, gatherings with more than 2 people banned, 1.5 meter introduced.[25]

New Zealand
  • 21 March: Restricted visits to aged care facilities.[25]
  • 22 March: At risk individuals ordered to stay home.[25]
  • 23 March: All individuals ordered to stay home unless carrying essential activities.[25]
  • 23 March: All non-essential services closed.[25]

Pakistan
  • 13 March: Educational institutions closed and public gatherings banned.[25]
  • 20 March: Non-essential government employees told to work from home.[25]
  • 20-point precautionary measures consensus in Pakistan

Russia
  • 16 March: higher educational institutions switch to distance learning.[33]
  • 18 March: announced schools dismiss for three weeks, employees are urged to allow work from home.[33]
  • 19 March : mandatory 2 weeks self-isolation for all travellers, entering the country.[33]
  • 22 March: citywide lockdown in Moscow for a week.[33]
  • 27 March: all international flights suspended.[33]
  • 30 March: lockdown prolonged up to April 30.[33]
  • 30 March: St Petersburg and several regions join the lockdown.[34][35][36]

Singapore
  • 24 March: All entertainment venues closed. Gatherings of more than 10 people banned outside of school and work.[25]
  • 7 April: Stay-at-home order (Circuit Breaker).[37] Non-essential workplaces closed, schools transitioned to distance learning, recreational venues, attractions and places of worship closed. Food and beverage outlets limited to takeaway, drive-thru and delivery only.[25]
  • 21 April: Introduced controlled access at areas susceptible to crowding, more non-essential workplaces closed (standalone F&B outlets that only sell beverages, packaged snacks, confectioneries, and desserts, as well as hairdressers and barbers).[38]
  • 12 May: Some shops reopen in preparation for relaxation of measures.
  • 1 June: Phase 1 opening.
  • 19 June: Phase 2 opening. Gatherings of up to 5 people allowed.

Turkey
  • 12 March: Closed schools and universities.[39]
  • 15 March: Closed libraries, pavilions, discotheques, bars and night clubs.[40]
  • 16 March: Closed mosques, cafes, gyms, Internet cafés and movie theaters.[41][42][43]
  • 19 March: Postponed football, volleyball, basketball and handball leagues.[44]
  • 21 March: Imposed a total curfew for those who are over the age 65 or chronically ill.[45] Closed restaurants, dining places and patisseries to the public for dining in, only allowing home delivery and take-away.[46]
  • 3 April: Extended the curfew to people younger than 20 years old.[47]
  • 10 April: Declared curfews for the upcoming weekend in the 30 provinces with metropolitan status and Zonguldak, lasting for 48 hours.[48]
  • 13 April: Announced that until further notice such curfews would be in force also during subsequent weekends.[49]

United Kingdom
  • 18 March: Closed schools.[25]
  • 21 March: Closed bars, restaurants, cafes and other entertainment venues.[25]
  • 22 March: Advised vulnerable people to stay at home.[25][50]
  • 23 March: Initiated Lockdown Phase, Closed most businesses.[25]
    • Restaurants, pubs, cafes and the like must close, but can operate food delivery and takeaway services. All retail must close except for supermarkets, medical services, pharmacies, petrol stations, bicycle shops, hardware shops, gardening shops, corner shops and newsagents, alcohol shops, laundrettes, post offices, and some other retailers. Hotels and other accommodation services must close but may provide accommodation to stranded foreign nationals, critical workers and homeless and other vulnerable people. Libraries, museums, community centres, and places for worship must close. Gyms, parks, sports and recreation facilities must close.[25]
    • Directed people to stay home except for shopping for necessities, seeking medical care or looking after a vulnerable person, and travelling to and from work which cannot be done at home.[25]

United States
Main article: U.S. state and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic
States, territories, and counties that issued a stay-at-home order:
  Came into effect before 22 March
  Came into effect before 29 March
  Came into effect before 5 April
  Came into effect before 12 April
Full map including municipalities

Alabama

Alaska
  • 28 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Arizona
  • 31 March: Stay at home order.[51]

California
  • 19 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Colorado
  • 26 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Connecticut
  • 23 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Delaware

District of Columbia
  • 1 April: Stay at home order.[51]

Florida
  • 3 April: Stay at home order.[51]

Georgia
  • 3 April: Shelter in place order.[51]

Hawaii
  • 25 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Idaho
  • 25 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Illinois
  • 21 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Indiana
  • 24 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Kansas
  • 30 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Kentucky
  • 26 March: Healthy at home order.[51]

Louisiana
  • 23 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Maine
  • 2 April: Stay at home order.[51]

Maryland
  • 30 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Massachusetts
  • 24 March: Stay at home advised.[51]

Michigan
  • 24 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Minnesota
  • 27 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Mississippi
  • 3 April: Shelter in place order.[51]

Missouri
  • 6 April: Stay at home order.[51]

Montana
  • 28 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Nevada
  • 1 April: Stay at home order.[51]

New Hampshire
  • 27 March: Stay at home order.[51]

New Jersey
  • 21 March: Stay at home order.[51]

New Mexico
  • 24 March: Stay at home order.[51]

New York
  • 22 March: Stay at home order.[51]

North Carolina
  • 30 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Ohio
  • 23 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Oregon
  • 23 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Pennsylvania
  • 1 April: Stay at home order.[51]

Puerto Rico
  • 15 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Rhode Island
  • 28 March: Stay at home order.[51]

South Carolina
  • 7 April: Stay at home order.[51]

Tennessee
  • 31 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Texas
  • 2 April: Stay at home order.[51]

Vermont
  • 25 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Virginia
  • 30 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Washington
  • 23 March: Stay at home order.[51]

West Virginia
  • 24 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Wisconsin
  • 25 March: Stay at home order.[51]

Debate

While enjoying broad support among epidemiologists, the social distancing measures are at times politically controversial. Intellectual support for the opposition tends to come from writers of other fields, although there are a few heterodox epidemiologists.[52]

The measures are part of an unprecedented expansion of government power. Advocates of small government worry that the state will be reluctant to give up that power once the crisis is over, as has often been the case historically.[53]

See also

References
  1. Harris, Margaret; Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros; Liu, Tu; Ryan, Michael "Mike" J.; Vadia; Van Kerkhove, Maria D.; Diego; Foulkes, Imogen; Ondelam, Charles; Gretler, Corinne; Costas (2020-03-20). "COVID-19" (PDF). World Health Organization. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  2. Hensley, Laura (2020-03-23). "Social distancing is out, physical distancing is in—here's how to do it". Global News. Corus Entertainment Inc. Archived from the original on 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  3. Venske, Regula (2020-03-26). Schwyzer, Andrea (ed.). "Die Wirkung von Sprache in Krisenzeiten" [The effect of language in times of crisis] (Interview). NDR Kultur (in German). Norddeutscher Rundfunk. Archived from the original on 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2020-03-27. (NB. Regula Venske is president of the PEN Centre Germany.)
  4. Johnson, Carolyn Y.; Sun, Lena; Freedman, Andrew (2020-03-10). "Social distancing could buy U.S. valuable time against coronavirus: It's a make-or-break moment with coronavirus to test one of the most basic—but disruptive—public health tools". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  5. Pearce, Katie (2020-03-13). "What is social distancing and how can it slow the spread of COVID-19?". The Hub. Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  6. "Risk Assessment and Management". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  7. "COVID-19 Educational Disruption and Response". UNESCO. 2020-03-04. Archived from the original on 2020-03-29. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  8. "Most UK cinemas shut after virus advice". BBC News. 2020-03-17. Archived from the original on 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  9. 'We're going to have more deaths': Influenza kills more people than the coronavirus so everyone is overreacting, right? Wrong—and here's why, MarketWatch, Quentin Fottrell, 9 March 2020.
  10. "Parents, police struggle to social distance the young in coronavirus outbreak". 2020-03-20.
  11. Young, Elise; Baker, David R. (2020-03-20). "Uh-Oh Moment Finally Hits States Slow to Adopt Social Distancing". Bloomberg News. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  12. Frieden, Tom. "Lessons from Ebola: The secret of successful epidemic response". CNN. Archived from the original on 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  13. "Coronavirus deprives nearly 300 million students of their schooling: UNESCO". The Telegram. Archived from the original on 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2020-03-23 – via Reuters.
  14. Lipsitch, Marc; Swerdlow, David L.; Finelli, Lyn (2020-03-26) [2020-02-19]. "Defining the Epidemiology of Covid-19—Studies Needed". New England Journal of Medicine. 382 (13): 1194–1196. doi:10.1056/NEJMp2002125. ISSN 0028-4793. PMID 32074416.
  15. Zimmermann, Petra; Curtis, Nigel (2020-03-18). "Coronavirus Infections in Children Including COVID-19: An Overview of the Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention Options in Children". The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. Online First (5): 355–368. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000002660. ISSN 0891-3668. PMC 7158880. PMID 32310621.
  16. "Adverse consequences of school closures". UNESCO. 2020-03-10. Archived from the original on 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  17. Ehrlich, Brenna (2020-03-15). "Taylor Swift Urges Fans to Stay Home Amid COVID-19 Outbreak: "I love you so much and I need to express my concern that things aren't being taken seriously enough right now," superstar writes". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  18. Reifschneider, Florian (2020). "A Movement to Stop the COVID-19 Pandemic". #StayTheFuckHome. Archived from the original on 2020-03-29. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  19. Hudson, Alex (2020-03-17). "Busy Philipps Joins Cameo to Record "Stay the Fuck Home" Messages for Coronavirus". exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  20. "AMA, AHA, ANA: #StayHome to confront COVID-19". Chicago, USA: American Medical Association. Archived from the original on 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  21. Berg, Madeline. "No, Netflix Is Not Spoiling Its Own Shows To Fight Coronavirus". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  22. Sayej, Nadja (2020-03-25). "'It feels like wartime': how street artists are responding to coronavirus—The pandemic may have closed museums and galleries down but artists have found other ways to comment on the crisis". The Guardian. Street art. Archived from the original on 2020-03-29. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  23. Solis, Jorge (2020-03-16). "The #StayTheF***kHome movement just wants you to, well, you know". Newsweek. Culture. Archived from the original on 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  24. "Policy Responses to COVID19". IMF. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  25. "COVID-19 Policy Watch | Tracking governments' responses to the pandemic". COVID-19 Policy Watch | Tracking governments’ responses to the pandemic. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  26. "Coronavirus: Das sind die Maßnahmen der Bundesländer" (in German). Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  27. "Corona-Krise - Ausgangsbeschränkungen: Was gilt wo?" (in German). Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  28. "Jokowi calls for 'social distancing' to stem virus spread". The Jakarta Post. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  29. "Jokowi: Indonesia Tidak Perlu Lockdown". KOMPAS.tv (in Indonesian). 16 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  30. "Kebijakan PSBB Harus Mendapat 'Restu' Pemerintah Pusat". hukumonline.com (in Indonesian). 1 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  31. "Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar Berhak Batasi Orang Keluar Masuk Suatu Daerah". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 1 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  32. "PP Nomor 21 Tahun 2020" (PDF) (in Indonesian). Government of Indonesia. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  33. "Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | April 21". The Moscow Times. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  34. "Russian regions join coronavirus lockdown as toll rises". Reuters. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  35. "Putin is distancing himself from Russia's virus outbreak. But it could still damage him politically". CNBC. 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  36. "Moscow Orders Citywide Quarantine Starting March 30". The Moscow Times. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  37. "COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020". Section 4, Regulations No. 254 of 7 April 2020 (PDF).
  38. https://www.gov.sg/article/circuit-breaker-extension-and-tighter-measures-what-you-need-to-know
  39. "İbrahim Kalın 'koronavirüs' toplantısında alınan tedbirleri açıkladı". Aa.com.tr. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  40. "Coronavirus: Turkey to shut public libraries". aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  41. "Turkey's Diyanet bans prayer gatherings, Friday prayers in mosques due to coronavirus". Daily Sabah. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  42. "Son dakika haberleri... Corona virüsü önlemleri: Kahvehaneler, kafeler, spor salonları kapatılıyor". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  43. "Son dakika... AVM ve lokantalar hariç tüm mekanlar kapatılıyor!" [Last minute ... All places are being closed except for shopping malls and restaurants!]. Haberturk. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  44. "Gençlik ve Spor Bakanı'ndan flaş açıklama: Süper Lig ertelendi!". Sabah. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  45. "Son dakika haberler: İçişleri Bakanlığı duyurdu! 65 yaş üstüne sokağa çıkma yasağı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  46. "İçişleri Bakanlığı lokanta ve restoranlar için yeni tedbirleri açıkladı". Anadolu Agency. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  47. "Son dakika... Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan yeni tedbirleri açıkladı! 20 yaş altına sokağa çıkma yasağı". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  48. "2 Gün Sokağa Çıkma Yasağı". The Ministry of the Interior. 10 April 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  49. "Turkey to continue with weekend curfews". Hürriyet Daily News. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  50. Wyper GM, Assunção R, Cuschieri S, Devleesschauwer B, Fletcher E, Haagsma JA, Hilderink HB, Idavain J, Lesnik T, Von der Lippe E, Majdan M, Milicevic MS, Pallari E, Peñalvo JL, Pires SM, Plaß D, Santos JV, Stockton DL, Thomsen ST, Grant I (2020). "Population vulnerability to COVID-19 in Europe: a burden of disease analysis". BMC Archives of Public Health. 78 (47): 47. doi:10.1186/s13690-020-00433-y. PMC 7256342. PMID 32501409.
  51. Mervosh, Sarah; Lu, Denise; Swales, Vanessa (2020-03-31). "See Which States and Cities Have Told Residents to Stay at Home". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  52. The Economist, 4 April 2020, page 14.
  53. The Economist, March 28th 2020, page 7.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.