Okay, it’s your nitpicky friend Gina here with a lesson on trendy terms right now.
I am seeing and hearing (looking at you Van) a lot of people saying they are in ‘quarantine’.
Most of you are not.
Ok— there are several terms in use here.
Most of us are in what is called ‘social distancing’. It’s when you aren’t showing any signs of being ill, and you are spending most of your time away from anyone not your core family. Some work sites are open to allow people to do this. Same with stores. Working from home, not going to school, closing museums and restaurants are all ways to do this.
Stay 6 feet away from people, spend minimum time around people, clean everything, don’t touch your face.
‘Sheltering at home’ means you are staying put in your house and only going out for emergencies. Locally, that includes trips to the parks, as long as you still follow social distancing. If you are only at home and no one is going out, life can be pretty normal.
Shelter in place is the same thing, only DO NOT GO OUT unless it’s required. If you *want* to go out, it’s not required. If you are missing an ingredient for dinner, it’s not required. If you are going stir crazy and want to shop, it’s not required. Going to a doctor’s appointment, going to essential work, those are ok.
Self monitoring means you may have been exposed at some point in time, and you are checking your symptoms to see if you have been infected. Say you went shopping a few days ago, and the county has announced a confirmed case went shopping at that store a few days ago- that’s when you self monitor.
Self quarantining is different. If you were at that store on the same day and you talked to the person who has now been confirmed, you self quarantine. You check your symptoms and you watch yourself carefully. And you stay away from other people for the 2 weeks you need to be sure. Even the people in your home.
IF YOU ARE MEDICAL STAFF this is your daily life, because each 2 week period starts with each exposure. I am emphasizing this for non medical people. I am sure medical staff are doing it. People whose jobs and vocations require them to have contact with people who are infected are living incredibly stressful lives right now. Cut them some slack, and stay home as much as possible to ease their loads.
These are all individual things, and as much as the government is mamdating them, they aren’t being literally policed.
Group things include:
A containment zone. Everything is closed and people in an area are supposed to shelter in place. People are free to come and go from the area, however.
An area quarantine. Everything is locked down by local or federal government. You are not allowed to leave the area or go into it. This is what’s happening in Italy, and on that cruise ship. An individual can be under a legal quarantine as well.
Isolation is when you are sick, either at home or in the hospital. This is much more than self-quarantine. People near you would wear protective gear. You are a risk to others.