. 2022 Apr 11;36(6):934–947. doi: 10.1177/08901171221075612

Topic 1:

Social Distancing

Didactic Message	Narrative Message
Social distancing is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing includes staying at least 6 feet from other people, not gathering in groups, and staying out of crowded places. Because people can spread the virus before they feel sick, it is important to stay away from others when possible, even if you—or they—have no symptoms. Following public health researchers’ recommendations, many states passed measures to enforce social distancing, such as ordering all non-essential businesses to close to prevent people from crowding inside stores or restaurants and to slow the spread of the disease. These social distancing restrictions have been found to be effective, and research shows that the measures need to stay in place in order to control the disease and prevent more cases and deaths from COVID-19. It is critical that social distancing measures, even though inconvenient, are followed to the extent possible until this potentially deadly disease is under control	A few months ago, my husband made some comments on social media criticizing restrictions the governor ordered to enforce social distancing in response to COVID-19. John said that people who stayed at home were just being paranoid. Well, a few weeks later, he got sick and eventually tested positive for COVID-19. I want to make it clear that John is not an irresponsible person. As soon as he tested positive, he called everyone he had been in contact with and told them to quarantine themselves because his doctor said that it’s possible for someone to spread the virus even before they start feeling sick Thankfully John recovered, and since then he has been encouraging everyone to comply with the state’s social distancing guidelines and public health researchers’ recommendations, like staying 6 feet from other people and avoiding crowded places like stores or restaurants. John understands now that he was wrong. Like many others, we didn’t realize how important these measures were to prevent people from getting this potentially deadly disease, but now we know that even though social distancing might be inconvenient- it’s the right thing to do. We will continue to practice social distancing until the disease is under control

Didactic Message

Narrative Message

Social distancing is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing includes staying at least 6 feet from other people, not gathering in groups, and staying out of crowded places. Because people can spread the virus before they feel sick, it is important to stay away from others when possible, even if you—or they—have no symptoms. Following public health researchers’ recommendations, many states passed measures to enforce social distancing, such as ordering all non-essential businesses to close to prevent people from crowding inside stores or restaurants and to slow the spread of the disease. These social distancing restrictions have been found to be effective, and research shows that the measures need to stay in place in order to control the disease and prevent more cases and deaths from COVID-19. It is critical that social distancing measures, even though inconvenient, are followed to the extent possible until this potentially deadly disease is under control

A few months ago, my husband made some comments on social media criticizing restrictions the governor ordered to enforce social distancing in response to COVID-19. John said that people who stayed at home were just being paranoid. Well, a few weeks later, he got sick and eventually tested positive for COVID-19. I want to make it clear that John is not an irresponsible person. As soon as he tested positive, he called everyone he had been in contact with and told them to quarantine themselves because his doctor said that it’s possible for someone to spread the virus even before they start feeling sick
Thankfully John recovered, and since then he has been encouraging everyone to comply with the state’s social distancing guidelines and public health researchers’ recommendations, like staying 6 feet from other people and avoiding crowded places like stores or restaurants. John understands now that he was wrong. Like many others, we didn’t realize how important these measures were to prevent people from getting this potentially deadly disease, but now we know that even though social distancing might be inconvenient- it’s the right thing to do. We will continue to practice social distancing until the disease is under control