Quarantine, social distance, self-isolation during coronavirus pandemic
We can’t prevent the spread of coronavirus completely, but we can flatten the incidence curve. What does that mean? It means: we can make the most severe cases that require hospitalization appear at such a rate that the system can handle them. A large number of very sick people can overwhelm a hospital or care facility in a matter of days. Too many people seriously ill for COVID-19 at about the same time could cause a shortage of hospital beds, equipment or doctors.
In the graph, a large, rapid and sharp increase in severe cases is recorded as a high steep curve – hence the phrase “flattening the curve.”
In other words: we can make sure we don’t all get sick as badly at the same time. For this to happen, we absolutely must apply:
- Quarantine – this type of isolation is defined by law in the Law on Prevention and Control of Infections and Infectious Diseases in Humans. According to the law, quarantine means “the isolation of a healthy person who has been exposed to infection in order to prevent the spread of particularly dangerous and highly contagious diseases.” Exposure to infection means that healthy people who have been in contact with people infected or suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus can be quarantined.
- Physical distance/social distance, i.e. the appropriate distance (2 meters) from other people when we shop or travel by public transportation.
- Voluntary self-isolation, i.e., staying at home and avoiding contact other than with household members – with family, or people with whom we are with on a daily basis
In maintaining social distance, we resort to such solutions as:
- Cancellation of all mass events (concerts, sports events, fairs) and events that are not mass in the eyes of the law, but attract a larger number of people
- Closure of universities, schools and kindergartens
- Closure of cultural facilities: cinemas, theaters, etc.
- closing of large-format stores
- Limiting the number of customers who can shop at the same time
- Closing large office buildings and posting employees to work remotely
- ban on assemblies in public spaces
- Closing squares, plazas, areas where habitually many people gather for walking and recreational purposes
All of these strictures help to stop or slow the spread of the disease, allowing the healthcare system to more easily and smoothly care for patients who require hospitalization.
Due to the epidemic situation, some of the canceled events will simply be lost, the vast majority of them, however, have a chance to take place at another time.
While we may feel that the current epidemic situation is completely beyond our control, we can influence the rate of coronavirus spread. By undergoing voluntary self-isolation in our own homes and maintaining rules of social distance, asymptomatic people do not infect others, who include those with immune disorders or comorbidities. Both situations can contribute to a very violent course of the disease or even death.
