From Social Distance to Physical Distance: A Challenge for Evaluating Public Health Interventions Against COVID-19

Hadi Pratomo

2020Kesmas National Public Health Journal20 citationsDOI Open Access PDF

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected every country. Currently, no suitable vaccine or treatment has been identified; therefore, each country has attempted to issue appropriate policies, designed to reduce and prevent increases in the numbers of extreme cases. Transmission can be prevented by implementing social restrictions, also known as social distancing. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued several methods for the prevention of transmission, including social distancing, washing hands with soap (or using hand sanitizer containing at least70% alcohol), and using masks. Over time, the term social distance has changed to physical distance. Evaluating the impacts of different types of non-pharmacological interventions has been challenging.

Topics & Concepts

Social distancePsychological interventionPandemicCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Public healthEnvironmental healthSocial isolationTransmission (telecommunications)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)BusinessMedicinePsychologyComputer scienceVirologyDiseaseNursingInfectious disease (medical specialty)TelecommunicationsPsychiatryOutbreakPathologyCOVID-19 epidemiological studiesCOVID-19 and Mental HealthInfection Control and Ventilation