Since COVID-19 reached Europe, governments across the continent have encouraged strict social distancing in an attempt to slow down the spread of the virus. Social distancing is the practice of increasing isolation and reducing the amount of time spent with others outside of one’s household.
This also includes working from home wherever possible and avoiding public transport.
The practice has become something of a buzz word during the coronavirus pandemic, but experts are now warning against naming it as such.
Researchers believe that in the modern world where we are instantly connected through smart phones and the internet, to give just two examples, we are all virtually permanently socialising.
With humans being social creatures, experts also state it is important we get our fair share of socialising – albeit in the virtual realm for the foreseeable future – to ensure our mental wellbeing.
For this reason, scientists and mental health experts want to rebrand the term ‘physical distancing’, which implies we are to keep our physical distance from each other in order to beat COVID-19.
Stanford University professor of psychology Jamil Zaki said: “I think we should begin by re-framing what we’re doing right now.
“We should think of this time as ‘physical distancing’ to emphasize that we can remain socially connected even while being apart.”
“Social distancing is vital to slowing the spread of COVID-19, but it also pushes against human beings’ fundamental need for connection with one another.
“Ironically, the same technologies we often blame for tearing apart our social fabric might be our best chance, now, of keeping it together.”
Around the world, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases have now surpassed 380,000 – impacting more than 100 countries.
The number of dead from the disease has exceeded 16,500 with this number expected to rise drastically.
The majority of cases are now in Europe with the WHO declaring it the epicentre of the virus, surpassing China.
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Italy is the highest area in Europe in terms of cases, with 63,297 as of Tuesday, March 24.
Deaths in Italy have now reached more than 6,000, marking the deadliest outbreak in the world.
In the UK, where there are now more than 6,000 confirmed cases, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a lockdown of at least three weeks in a bid to contain the virus.
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