Combating Coronavirus:

An Action Guide
By 1mg March 18, 2020

Stay alert, but don’t panic

Part I: SOCIAL DISTANCING
Wondering what exactly
is social distancing?

Here is our one-stop guide for what you

must know about social distancing,
based on the updated guidelines by the
WHO, CDC and MoHFW with inputs from
various medical experts.

Compiled by
Dr Swati Mishra

Reviewed by
Dr Varun Gupta
Dr Ashish Ranjan

Disclaimer: The content, data and analysis in this action guide is for informational and awareness
purposes only. It is not a substitute for any professional medical advice, or the Govt. of India
guidelines around similar contexts.

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Some words you might
have heard already

Social distancing.
Lock down.
Home quarantine.
Self-isolation.

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 Is there any difference
between quarantine, isolation
and social distancing?

Yes.
Although used interchangeably, they don’t mean the
same thing.
Isolation: Separates sick people with an infected disease
from people who are not sick.*
Quarantine: Separates and restricts the movement of
people who were exposed to an infected disease to see if
they become sick.*
Social distancing: Reduces the contact of people who are
not sick among themselves as a precautionary measure.

Social distancing simply means reducing contact and

maintaining a physical distance between yourself and
others.
As of now, 1 metre is considered safe. That's about an arm's
length.
Notably, the infected droplets can travel up to around 1
metre in the air and quickly settle on the surfaces.

Source:
*Definitions as per CDC, Quarantine and Isolation.

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Why is there a need
for social distancing?

Social distancing is important

because the novel coronavirus is
most likely to spread from
person-to-person.
It will help in :

Reducing the chances for coronavirus

transmission

Lowering the pace and extent of the spread

of coronavirus

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 How long do I need to
follow social distancing?

Till March 31, 2020 as per

NCDC's current guidelines
in place

The situation is evolving rapidly and it will

largely depend on how we perform as a
community to slow down the spread of
Coronavirus.

Source: [Link]

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 Fundamentals first

4 important stages of a pandemic spread.

Stage IV
Spread through
several
Stage III communities
(epidemic), with
Community no clear
spread (some of endpoint
Stage II the infected
Cases

people in an
Local area might not
transmission know how or
Stage I (close contact of where they got
an infected infected)
Imported cases
person, like
only (from
family and
affected
friends)
countries)

Time

India is still at stage II, as per WHO’s situation

report on March 17, 2020.*
This means there is no evidence of community
spread as of now.

Source: WHO situation report, as on March 17, 2020.

*[Link]

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 Is there any WHO-approved
standard protocol to check
community spread?*

Yes.
The designated labs perform testing of
coronavirus on randomly chosen samples
from different communities across the
country.

Consistent negative results on such

testing indicates, "the spread is only
through local transmission mode, and has
not reached to the masses".

Source: WHO situation report, as on March 17, 2020.

[Link]

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 Own the responsibility to
restrict it to Stage II

India has 3-4 weeks to halt the onset of

the stage III, as per ICMR DG (March 17,
2020). The upcoming 2-3 weeks seem to
be crucial to slow down and stop the
spread of coronavirus in India.

Source:
[Link]
/articleshow/[Link]

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How can you
contribute?

Follow social distancing.

Practice enhanced personal

hygiene practices.

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How does social
distancing work?

It breaks the chain.

The more space between you and others,

the harder it is for the virus to spread.

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 Will it really
be effective?

Yes,
highly likely.
Learning from previous pandemics have
proven that early and rapid
implementation of social distancing can
significantly reduce the spread of the
infection and lower death rates.

It helps in "flattening the curve".

Source: Public health interventions and epidemic intensity during the 1918 influenza pandemic.
[Link]

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 Understanding “Flattening
the curve”

It means to keep the daily number

of disease cases on the lower side.
Social distancing may or may not be able to reduce the spread
of coronavirus, but it ensures that the number of infected
people at any one time is limited.
Number of daily cases

Without
protective
measures

Healthcare system capacity

With
protective
measures

Days since the first case

A high curve indicates a quick spread of coronavirus, limited

medical care and healthcare support, and a likely increase in
the number of deaths.

A low curve means slow spread of coronavirus, which gives

doctors the time and facilities to treat more people (and save
more lives).

Source: A tweet from Drew A Harris, eminent health analyst.

[Link]

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Why should I care if I don't
think I can get sick?

Your individual risk may be low. But

taking steps like these will benefit the
society as a whole.

An individual who doesn't get very sick

might still pass the infection along to
others, including parents, neighbors,
people on the bus, etc.

A single person’s behavior can affect

people faraway.

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Can I go out of
my house?

Stepping out of
the house is not
an absolute no

The primary objective is to reduce

physical contact by staying indoors.

But those who are symptom-free and not

part of an at-risk group, can still go out.

Ensure to follow proper hand hygiene

before leaving and on returning.

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All of us need to
adapt to a new way
of living, working, and
forging relationships.
Step back, stay at
home, and help slow
down the spread of
coronavirus.

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What are the
action points?
In a nutshell
Avoid Follow caution Good-to-do

Gyms Visit a local Eat healthy

restaurant,
Museums especially indoors Practice stretching,
yoga, and meditation
Swimming pools Grocery shopping at at home
a crowded market
Theatres Sleep well
Office places
Educational Don’t panic, just be
institutes (schools, Shopping malls at watchful
universities, colleges, peak hours
etc.) 1-to-1 check-in with
Markets in general, friends, while
Cultural and social like anaj mandi, sabji avoiding close
events mandi, etc. contact

Sports events Bus depots Group video chats

with friends
Sleepovers Railway stations
Staying connected
Weddings Airports through social media
& calls
Meeting visitors for Post-offices
frivolous/ Read a book
nonessential cause Hospitals and lab
facilities Enroll in online
In-person meetings learning programs
with unknown
people

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Tips for social distancing
at home

Avoid visitors at home as much as possible.

Visit shops sparingly and buy more goods and
services online. Do not panic buy.
Stock up medicines for chronic conditions in
advance for at least 1 month.
Avoid outings and travel, for yourself and
family.
Keep children at home, avoid co-curricular
classes like dance, swimming, etc. as well as
home tuitions in large groups.
Use tissues while using lift buttons and throw
them in closed bins immediately after use.
Avoid visiting hospitals, dental clinics, and
labs, unless absolutely necessary.

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Tips for social distancing in
the workplace

Stay at home if you are sick.

Opt for working from home over going to

office.

Prefer namaste or hand-waving over

handshaking .

Hold meetings via video conferencing or

phone call; defer large meetings.

If possible, hold essential meetings outside,

in open air.

Avoid lunch rooms and eat your lunch at

your desk or outside.

Limit food handling and sharing of food in

the workplace.

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Tips for social distancing in
the public

If you are sick, stay away from

others– that is the most important
thing you can do.

In case you need to travel, avoid rush hours

and large crowds.

If you are using a cab or taxi service, ask the

driver to roll down the windows, wherever
possible.

While eating out in restaurants, ensure a

physical distance (minimum 1 metre)
between tables.

Keep already planned weddings to a limited

gathering, postpone all non-essential social
and cultural gatherings.

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Additional instructions
where people are sick

Care for the sick person at home in a single

room with an attached washroom, if
possible.

Keep the number of carers to a minimum.

Keep the door to the sick person’s room

closed and, if possible, a window open.

Both, the sick person and the people caring

for them, should wear a surgical mask
when they are in the same room.

Maintain distance from other vulnerable

family members, such as the elderly (over
60 years of age) or people with chronic
illnesses.

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Following these actions will reduce risk
Additional instructions
to you and to others.
where people
Let’s remain watchfulare
andsick
careful for
the next 1 month.

Care for the sick person in a single room

with an attached washroom, if possible.

Keep the number of carers to a minimum.

Keep the door to the sick person’s room

closed and, if possible, a window open.
Wash your Use a tissue for Avoid touching
Both,
hands the sick person
coughs and the people
yourcaring
face

for them, should wear a surgical mask

For any further queries, contact the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
when
on their 24*7 they
helplineare in the
number same room.
+91-11-23978046 or Toll Free Number 1075 or
email at ncov2019@[Link].
Maintain distance from other vulnerable
Follow this page for regular and authentic updates on Novel Coronavirus:
family members, such
[Link] as the elderly (over
60 years of age) or people with chronic
illnesses.

Sources:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

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We hope this information was helpful. Stay
tuned for more parts of the 'Combating
Coronavirus: An Action Guide'.

Meanwhile, should you have any specific topic

in mind around this, kindly share them at
[Link]

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