What Is Social Distancing?

Social distancing is a way to keep people from interacting closely or frequently enough to spread an infectious disease. Schools and other gathering places such as movie theaters may close, and sports events and religious services may be cancelled.

What Is Quarantine?

Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. It lasts long enough to ensure the person has not contracted an infectious disease.

What Is Isolation?

Isolation prevents the spread of an infectious disease by separating people who are sick from those who are not. It lasts as long as the disease is contagious.

Stay Informed

Stay up to date on what is happening, while limiting your media exposure. Avoid watching or listening to news reports 24/7 since this tends to increase anxiety and worry. Remember that children are especially affected by what they hear and see on television.

Speaking out about your needs is particularly important if you are in quarantine, since you may not be in a hospital or other facility where your basic needs are met. Ensure you have what you need to feel safe, secure, and comfortable.

Reduce Financial Stress

If you’re unable to work during this time, you may experience stress related to your job status or financial situation.

Provide your employer with a clear explanation of why you are away from work.

Contact the U.S. Department of Labor tollfree at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) about the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows U.S. employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for serious medical conditions, or to care for a family member with a serious medical condition.

Contact your utility providers, cable and Internet provider, and other companies from whom you get monthly bills to explain your situation and request alternative bill payment arrangements as needed.

Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation

Talk about your experiences and feelings to loved ones and friends.

Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking; consider keeping a journal where you write down things you are grateful for or that are going well.

Relax your body by doing things that work for you — take deep breaths, stretch, meditate or pray, or engage in activities you enjoy.

Pace yourself between stressful activities, and do something fun after a hard task.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with emotions such as sadness, depression, anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or someone else, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

Connect With Others

Reaching out to people you trust is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, depression, loneliness, and boredom during social distancing, quarantine, and isolation. You can:

Use the telephone, email, text messaging, and social media to connect with friends, family, and others.

Use Skype or FaceTime so you can talk face to face with friends and family.

At Home With Kids During the Outbreak?

Here are some helpful resources to help you talk about what they’re experiencing.

How to Talk to Your Anxious Child About the Coronavirus

Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019

Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus

Dealing with Anxiety

There are numerous resources available to help adults and children stay mentally well during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Vaya Health’s 24/7 Access to Care Line remains available to western North Carolina residents experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Anyone with a behavioral health crisis can call 1-800-849-6127, toll free, day or night, for help from trained professionals.

For strategies to cope with anxiety and overwhelming emotions in yourself or your child, visit www.cdc.gov/conronavirus.

For tips to help stay mentally well during social distancing or isolation due to a disease outbreak response, visit www.vayahealth.com/coronavirus-updates, and click “COVID-19 Resources for MH/IDD.”