School of Therapeutic Sciences Learning Zone

Social distancing (sometimes known as ‘Physical distancing’) is about keeping a safe distance from others so that you reduce the transmission of COVID-19. It is recommended to be 1.5 to 2 meters apart from another person at all times. Social distancing is also about reducing the number of social contacts one has with different people and so minimising your, and their changes of being exposed to the virus.

This is about physical distance. For your own mental health, you can, and should, keep in touch with friends and family via the phone, or online. Keep yourself out of any situation where you come into face-to-face contact with others closer than 1.5 metres away. A recent study found incidence of transmission when within 1 meter to be 13% which dropped to 2.6% when greater than 1 meter.