Public perceptions and experiences of social distancing and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK-based focus group study

Simon N Williams; Christopher J Armitage; Tova Tampe; Kimberly Dienes

Public health policy is therefore exclusively reliant on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). The key NPIs being used in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK and globally (in addition to personal hygiene advisories (e.g. emphasising regular and thorough handwashing)) are social distancing (e.g. prohibiting public gatherings, closing schools and other non-essential services, and keeping a distance of >2 metres apart from others) and social isolation (e.g. remaining indoors except for one brief outing for per day for physical activity or 'essential supplies'). [5] Due to the unprecedented scale and severity of the social distancing and social isolation measures being implemented in response to COVID-19, the social and psychological impacts on the public are also likely to be unprecedented in scale and severity.