The Close Contact Myth in Infectious Disease Outbreaks Exploring the Science Behind Social Distancing The concept of close contact has become a cornerstone of public health strategy during infectious disease outbreaks.
It's a notion that has been deeply ingrained in our collective psyche: if you come within six feet of someone who is sick, you're at risk of contracting their illness.
But does this myth stand up to scientific scrutiny? In recent years, as the world grappled with the COVID 19 pandemic, social distancing measures became ubiquitous.