It’s becoming more and more difficult. To keep away from the people you love. The people you worry about; your friends; your colleagues. You are not even sure you remember what your office looks like anymore. You have a new office now. The coffee table in the living room. Or, sometimes, the big table in the kitchen. Well, you promised yourself you’d stop working from your couch. OK, maybe only on Friday afternoons.

You miss hugging your friends. 

The problem is, you don’t know when Friday arrives. You’ve lost track of time. You’ve lost your routine. And you miss it. Those after work drinks; your Pilates class; your early morning jogging. But you don’t only miss that. You miss hugging your friends. Laughing uncontrollably at the bar and accidentally bumping into the guy right next to you. You miss proximity. You miss random encounters in the fruit aisle. You miss your life as it were. 

We all are. But we are in a crucial moment now. We are in a moment when we have to keep apart. And as we keep apart, we keep ourselves safe. And the safer we are, the safer those around us are also. Because, as we all know, this new virus is really easily transmitted. It spreads through droplets or contaminated surfaces. It might sound vague, but it isn’t. 

It’s very important to keep 2 metres apart. 

When someone sneezes or coughs, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth. These little droplets might contain the virus, if the person is sick. So, if you are close to them when they cough or sneeze, you are very likely to breathe in the droplets, and, if they carry it, the COVID-19 virus as well. This is why we have to keep our distance. This is why it’s very important to keep 2 metres apart. 

The further we are apart, the stronger we remain.

Remember, though, this distance is only physical. This is only temporary. But for now, the further we are apart, the stronger we remain. Although, keeping ourselves at home will not keep ourselves immune. We still come in contact with some people. We still have to get out to buy food. It is, therefore, important to remember. Wash your hands and wash them good. Do not touch your face. Wait, let us repeat. Do not touch your face. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. You don’t want the virus in. When you sneeze, sneeze in your bent elbow. That’s fun! You might even look like a ninja -for a second or two. If you, however, don’t feel ninja cool and you’d prefer to use a tissue, please, throw it away immediately afterwards. 

All this is new, demanding and unusual. But for most of us it’s not that difficult to adjust. After all, we still have our biggest weapons. We still have love in our hearts. Our brightest smiles. And the will and ability to lend a helping hand. It’s true, we must stay apart. But we can still stay connected. Let’s be kind. Let’s be giving. Let’s remain calm. 

 All these people are in far more risk than me and you. But they get up every morning and they help us.

Keep your hands clean, your face untouched and your elbow ready to cover your mouth. Stay inside. Stay safe. You’re not alone in this. All the scientists in the world are on your side. All the doctors and the nurses and the pharmacists and the garbage men. The postmen. All the people who keep making the deliveries. The ones who cook our food. The ones who keep cleaning our buildings. All these people are in far more risk than me and you. But they get up every morning and they help us. It’s our turn to help them. Let’s keep them as safe as it gets. It’s easy. Let’s just stay in our homes. 

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