Corresponding author:
Farid Rahimi, PhD, ELS
Division of Biomedical Science and Biochemistry
Research School of Biology
The Australian National University
Canberra, ACT 2600
Australia
Tel: +61 2 61252851
Email: farid.rahimi@anu.edu.au
Acknowledgment: Authors have no funding sources to declare in
relation to this perspective. The contents of the perspective and the
opinions expressed therein are
those of the authors. Abstract
Physical/social distancing, handwashing, respiratory hygiene, and
face-masking have been recommended as realistic counterstrategies to
control the COVID-19 pandemic. These strategies have been critical in
the fight against the present pandemic in many countries. Here, we
detail the background to such countermeasures, present some examples in
different settings, and finally emphasize that they should remain in
place worldwide as a cultural and behavioral “new normal” until a
vaccine or a decisive treatment for COVID-19 is developed and made
available globally.
Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, quarantine, respiratory hygiene,
social distancing