Anthony Pouch, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under the National Institutes of Health. AP=Yonhap News
In social distancing to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19), 2m is the standard. Anthony Pouch, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), an infectious disease authority in the United States, said on the 14th that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is studying whether 3 feet (about 1 meter) distance is effective under certain conditions.
Director Pouch appeared on CNN that day and mentioned the possibility of changing the standard distance for social distancing from 6 feet (about 2 meters) to 3 feet.
Researchers at a medical center in Boston analyzed that there was no significant difference between COVID-19 infections between 6 feet and 3 feet in schools where they taught face-to-face. The medical center surveyed 540,000 students and 100,000 employees from 251 school districts who participated in face-to-face classes for 16 weeks.
Pouch said that CDC is paying attention to this data and is conducting research on its own, and predicted that the results will be released soon.
AFP Communications evaluated that Pouch’s remarks were a move to change the core principles related to social distancing, which is universally used at 2m.
If the standard distance for social distancing is closer to 1m, it can have a great impact on normalizing schools, as well as easing quarantine guidelines in offices and cafes, as well as sports viewing and performing arts.
Meanwhile, Pouch predicted that the United States will be much more free from quarantine on July 4, the Independence Day, due to the effects of the Corona 19 vaccine.
President Joe Biden said in his speech on the 11th, “If we do it together, there is a high probability that until July 4th, we will gather in the yard with family, friends, cook in the yard, and celebrate Independence Day.”
Reporter Lee Hae-jun [email protected]
