Together Apart

'Social distancing' is one of the most perplexing additions to the English language.  It is meant to encapsulate the range of measures being taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus.  Understandably, we are being asked (ordered) to keep a physical distance from others at this time - not to shake hands, to avoid meetings, gatherings and travel, and not to leave our homes except when essential.

And yet this is precisely the time when we need to come together as communities and share the burden of these lockdowns, as many communities have done.  In my own street we hold a party on Friday nights, each household on their own balcony, sharing shouted conversation and music, and all organised through our street 'Helping Hand' WhatsApp group.  The need to assist those in the community (the elderly for example) who may struggle with the social isolation and the many restrictions on daily life, is widely recognised too.

So let's call it 'physical distancing', as the World Health Organisation (WHO) now does, and stress that physical distancing needs social solidarity not social distancing.  In the Indian state of Kerala (population 35 million) they have adopted the slogan 'Physical Distance, Social Unity' which sounds like a good place to start.  In this crisis we need to be Together Apart.