What is social distancing and self-isolation?

Everybody in the UK has been asked to stop non-essential contact with other people and avoid all unnecessary travel. This is known as social distancing.

It follows people with flu-like symptoms being asked to self-isolate at home, to avoid infecting others.

So, what do you need to know about social distancing and self-isolation?

What is social distancing?

Social distancing means trying to avoid contact with other people.

It means spending less time in public places, where a lot of people are around.

The government wants:

• People to start working from home wherever possible
• All unnecessary travel stopped
• Pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues to be avoided
• Anyone living with someone who has a cough or a temperature to stay at home for 14 days

What is self-isolating?

Self-isolating means cutting yourself off from the rest of the world.

From now on, if one person in a household starts to display flu-like symptoms – defined as a fever of above 37.8C or a persistent cough – everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days.

The person with the symptoms should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened, and keep away from other people in the home.

They should ask for help for groceries, other shopping or medication, which can be dropped off on the doorstep by friends, family or delivery drivers.

People are being advised not to ring NHS 111 or their GP to report their symptoms unless they are worried.

The Covid-19 disease can cause a fever, cough and breathing problems. It takes five days on average for people to start showing the symptoms.

Here’s a great idea for those of you with Netflix and are self-isolating.

Netflix Party is a new way to watch Netflix with your friends online. Netflix Party synchronises video playback and adds group chat to your favourite Netflix shows.

Join over 500,000 people and use Netflix Party to link up with friends and host long distance movie nights and TV watch parties today!”

How it works:

01 Install Netflix Party

To install Netflix Party, start off by clicking the “Install Netflix Party” button. Once you are redirected to the Chrome Web Store, click “Add to Chrome” to finish installing Netflix Party.

02 Open a Video in Netflix

Go to Netflix’s website. Choose any show you would like to watch and start playing the video.

03 Create your party

To create your party, click on the red “NP” icon located next to the address bar. Then click “Start Party” to get the party started, and share the party URL to invite friends.

04 Join a Netflix Party

To join a party click on the party URL, which will redirect to Netflix’s website. Then click on the “NP” button next to the address bar, and you should automatically join the party.

Find out more information here

#HaveYourSay – How are you coping? What troubles you most about he current pandemic? If you’re working from home amid the outbreak, has your productivity suffered, or improved? Let us know by leaving a comment below – we’ll feature the most interesting answers right here next week.