Why should we stay 2m away from others when socially distancing?

A comic looking at why we chose 2 meters as the recommended distance to keep between people when practicing social distancing. The World Health Organisation recommends at least 3 feet (approx 1 meter) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends 6 feet (approx 2 meters); these numbers are based on the falloff distance of heavy droplets which carry similar coronaviruses to COVID-19.

A recent study from MIT found that the cloud expelled in a cough or sneeze can carry such droplets further than previously thought, up to 23-27 feet (7-8 meters). It has not yet been confirmed if the droplets can infect at this range, however. Some scientists argue that the disease would be spreading even faster if this were true.

Regardless, following the guidance of at least 2 meters seems wise to stay away from infective droplets being shed by people who may not even realise they are infected. For those who are clearly experiencing symptoms, proper isolation is the best protection for those around you!

I hope you are all staying safe and looking out for one another (from a distance!).

Let me know in the comments if there is a question about COVID-19 you'd like me to tackle with a future comic!