Differences between quarantine, social distancing and isolation

Summary of the differences between these concepts used to prevent the spread of diseases.

With the arrival of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and, during these days (March 2020), we hear very often these three terms: quarantine, social distancing and isolation. What does each term mean? These are three very similar concepts, but they harbor certain differences.

What are the differences between quarantine, social distancing and isolation? In this article we talk about the four most important ones, although, through the initial definitions that we bring you of each concept, we will be able to better understand what they are.

Fighting disease: what is each concept?

Before explaining the differences between quarantine, social distancing and isolation, let's see what each concept means. These are three medical measures used to prevent the contagion or spread of a certain disease, usually of an infectious type, in the population.

These measures are widely used in pandemics, such as the current coronavirus (which, in this case, have already been implemented in most countries to combat the disease).

Quarantine

Quarantine is a medical concept used to designate the isolation of people (in their homes) for an unspecified period of time as a consequence of a disease. The objective of quarantine is to reduce, avoid or eliminate the risk of spreading the disease. In other words, the aim is to avoid contagion and stop the spread of the disease.

This action is used to separating and restricting the movement of healthy persons, or healthy persons who may have been exposed to infected persons.. The quarantine, in the case of coronavirus, by protocol lasts 14 days.

In addition, also in the case of coronavirus, it is estimated that once infected by it, it takes between 5 and 14 days, at the most, to manifest symptoms. Therefore, once the quarantine is over, it is possible to see if the person has manifested symptoms or not (although there are infected persons who never manifest symptoms).

In a state of quarantine, the population cannot go out in the street (only in exceptional cases).. In Spain, quarantine means only being able to leave the house to work (with an authorization), to go shopping, to walk pets, to accompany elderly people or minors, to throw garbage, etc. In case of non-compliance with these rules, you may be fined or even arrested.

2. Social distancing

Social distancing encompasses all infection control measures aimed at stopping (or slowing down) the spread of a contagious disease.

For practical purposes, social distancing means not being able to be very close to the people we come across or are with (about two meters away). (about two meters away), and avoiding being in large groups (in Spain, for example, quarantine implies social distancing in supermarket queues, and also the impossibility of going out in the street accompanied, unless accompanied by a minor, a person with a disability or an elderly person).

3. Isolation

Isolation is used to separate people already suffering from the contagious disease in question from healthy people, to prevent the former from spreading the disease.to prevent the former from infecting the others, thus reducing the risk of spreading the disease.

This action is used by hospitals and different medical centers, with the necessary medical control. In practical terms, it would be the same as quarantine, but in this case, it is used only for people who are already ill.

4 Differences between quarantine, social distancing and isolation

Now that we have developed the main differences between quarantine, social distancing and isolation, we will understand this and the other concepts or measures a little better.

As we can see, the three phenomena explained, quarantine, social distancing and social isolation, have the same objective, which is the same goal, that is, to reduce social isolation, have the same objective, which is to prevent the contagion and spread of a given disease among the population. among the population. In turn, these are processes or actions that are used, above all, in the face of pandemics.

Pandemics are epidemic diseases that either affect almost all individuals in a given locality or spread to many countries in an exaggeratedly rapid manner. An example of a pandemic is the current situation in 171 countries as a result of the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

As a result of this fact, the three mechanisms or actions explained in this article have been applied in most of these countries. We have seen how the purpose of these three concepts is the same; however, there are differences. We will see the main ones below.

Nature of the term

The first of the differences between quarantine, social distancing and isolation has to do with the nature or origin of each term; that is, with the field from which they come (it should be noted that we are not talking about etymology).

In the case of quarantine, the term comes from medicine (in the sense that it is a medical term, widely used in this sector). (in the sense that it is a medical term, widely used in this sector); as for social distancing, although it is also used in medicine, the concept would come from social psychology; finally, isolation would also come from social psychology, although it is then used for medical situations such as pandemics.

2. Target population

Another difference between the three measures lies in the target population of each, as there are nuances in this respect.

Quarantine is aimed at the entire population (healthy, healthy people who have been exposed to infected people, and sick people), whereas social distancing is aimed at healthy people who have not yet contracted the disease. (people with the disease are directly isolated, although social distancing could also be requested), and finally, isolation is applied to people who have already contracted the disease, to prevent them from spreading it to the rest.

3. Degree or intensity of the action.

Another difference between quarantine, social distancing and isolation is the degree of intensity of the action. the degree of intensity of the action, or to what extent it interferes with the person's life..

Thus, while isolation has a high intensity, in the sense that the person is directly isolated from his environment (he cannot see his friends, relatives and, in short, no one), in quarantine the intensity could be said to be moderate, because the person can see other people and be in contact with them (although he is confined at home, and must apply the recommended security measures).

Finally, social distancing would imply the lowest degree of intensity, since in this case people can see each other, but not get too close to each other.

4. Time period or duration

Finally, the fourth difference between quarantine, social distancing and isolation has to do with the time period of each action. Quarantine is the only measure that has a stipulated and specific time period.The time is determined by the protocol of each disease or pandemic.

For its part, social distancing does not usually have a stipulated time, it simply lasts as long as the state of alertness to the disease. In the case of isolation, it ends when the person no longer manifests symptoms and when it is demonstrated that he or she is cured (although the security measures in question must continue to be applied).

Bibliographic references:

• Delgado, R.C., González, P.A. and Soler, A.R. (2009). Health system and triage during an influenza pandemic: a public health approach. Emergencias, 21: 376-381.
• Ledermann, W. (2003). Man and his epidemics throughout history. Revista chilena de infectología, Anniversary edition: 13-17.
• Real Academia Española. (2001). Dictionary of the Spanish Language [Diccionario de la lengua española] (22nd ed.). Madrid, Spain: Author.