Staying farther apart is also called social distancing. You can lower your chance of getting COVID-19 by staying apart from people who you don’t live with or stay with. Staying farther apart helps to protect you from somebody who might be infected by making it harder for COVID-19 to reach you.
How to stay farther apart:
- A rule of thumb is to stay at least 6 feet apart, but more is better.
- It’s important to stay apart from others both indoors and outdoors.
- It’s also important to stay farther apart from people who are breathing hard (like when they exercise, shout, cheer, sing, or chant).
How long is 6 feet?
It’s about the same as…
Two arm lengths
1 bicycle
1 couch
1 cow
1 fishing rod
2 yard sticks
2 shopping carts
12 hot dogs
Examples of staying farther apart:
- When taking the train, stand farther apart from other people on the platform, and choose the least crowded train car. Go after rush hour if you can.
- While you are waiting to be seated in a restaurant, wait in the least crowded area, which may be outside. Try going before the dinner crowd.
- When you go to a movie, choose a seat farther away from other people, even if it means you have to sit in the front row.
- Go shopping on a weekday to avoid weekend crowds.
- When you’re at the gym, stay farther away from other people who are exercising.
- At a march, stay farther away from other people who are also chanting or cheering.