Another study in Washington State that looked at the spread of respiratory viruses in general – but not Covid-19 – showed that social distancing can reduce the spread of these diseases over the long term too. Unusually high snowfall in February 2019 led to widespread school and workplace closures, which saw a reduction in cases over the rest of the season of 3-9%.
The trouble is, when people start meeting together again, the virus will start spreading and cases are likely to rise. Which is why we may see a stop-start approach to social distancing, where measures might be eased a little, allowing the number of cases to rise before stricter measures are put back in place to keep infection levels within the bounds of what health services can cope with. This has been likened to turning on and off the tap of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure hosptials and medical staff are not overwhelmed. (Read more about how long it may take before we have a vaccine against Covid-19.)
Of course, staying away from friends and family is not easy, especially during a global pandemic. There can be some unintended consequences that come from avoiding people. In the long term, staying isolated from social groups is linked to heart disease, depression, and dementia.
But social distancing does not necessarily mean stopping all contact. Unlike in 1918, today there are plenty of ways for people to stay in touch with loved ones. Technology has brought us social media, messaging apps and online video calls.
And if it keeps the ones we love around us safe, it may ultimately be worth it.
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As an award-winning science site, BBC Future is committed to bringing you evidence-based analysis and myth-busting stories around the new coronavirus. You can read more of our Covid-19 coverage here.
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Why social distancing might last for some time - BBC News
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