Representative image. Image courtesy: Chiang Rai Times

The World Health Organization (WHO) is discouraging the use of the phrase ‘social distancing’.

The organization has urged people to use the phrase ‘physical distancing’ instead.

This, according to WHO, is to provide a clear understanding that the governments’ directives to stay home amid the coronavirus outbreak is not about breaking social contacts with family and friends but about keeping a physical distance to ensure the disease doesn’t spread.

In an attempt to prevent the widespread of COVID-19, the governments across the world are encouraging people to avoid public gatherings.

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In Bhutan, people coming into the country from abroad are being quarantined for at least two weeks.

Schools and colleges have been closed, entertainment centres and pubs are asked to suspend operations for an indefinite time.

Even events that draw huge crowds are being cancelled or postponed.

These measures previously referred to as social distancing was proposed to prevent the spread of the virus.

Now the WHO says it should rather be called physical distancing and not social distancing.

An assessment conducted by the WHO in Bhutan concluded that one affected person has the potential to infect between two to three people which otherwise can be avoided if people practise physical distancing.

Countries around the world are taking physical distancing seriously with many States going into complete lockdown as the number of infected cases soars every day.