What Is Social Distancing?
Social distancing is the act of limiting mass public gatherings as much as possible to prevent the spread of the virus. This could simply be working remotely from home (here’s a guide on how to do this effectively), not visiting crowded locations and staying away from highly infected areas.
What To Avoid
During social distancing, you need to avoid the following:
- Group gatherings
- Concerts
- Sports events
- Mass transit systems (AKA buses, taxis, Gautrain, airports)
- Retail hub spots (malls)
- Theatre shows
- Schools
- Play dates and sleepovers
Where To Be Cautious
Let’s face it, we still need to visit grocery stores and pharmacies to keep stocked up on supplies and necessities. During social distancing, use caution if you’re in these areas:
- Restaurants (eating in or takeout)
- Grocery stores
- Churches
- Public service areas, such as the library, post office or petrol station
- When travelling from one location to the next
Where It’s Safe
As much doom and gloom as there is about the spread of COVID-19 in the city, there’s still a silver lining: there are still safe things to do that will not put you at risk of contracting the Coronavirus. Here’s a few:
- Calling a distant friend to catch up (be it phone or video call)
- Playing board games with your family
- Taking a walk or drive
- Gardening in your garden
- Decluttering your home
- Streaming your favourite series on Netflix
- Reading a good book
- Cooking a family meal (provided you wash your hands before, during and after preparing it)