What is social distancing and how does it apply to labs?
- The goal of social distancing is to reduce virus transmission by decreasing the frequency and duration of social contact amongst healthy individuals. CDC describes it as “common-sense approaches to limiting face-to-face contact…” but it is not intended to completely eliminate all interactions.
- For example, labs conducting approved critical research might increase spacing between researchers by consciously maintaining a 6-foot spacing between individuals, coming to the lab in shifts, allowing every other bench to be unoccupied, etc.
- Limit face-to-face contacts by conducting meetings by phone or online.