Table 1.

Example social distancing criteria adopted by countries with greatest numbers of COVID-19 cases.

Country	Definition of “safe” social distance	COVID-19 Cases (As of January 9th, 2020)	Source	Other contaminant measures	% of population (data from June 13th, 2022) (O: at least one dose; F: full vaccinated) (Source: https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations?country=OWID_WRL∼GBR∼USA∼BRA∼RUS∼CHN∼IND)
WHO	1 m	Worldwide total: 88.9 million	https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public#:∼:text=If%20COVID%2D19%20is%20spreading,a%20bent%20elbow%20or%20tissue	•Get vaccinated •Wear a mask properly •Avoid the 3C spaces (closed, crowded, or involve close contact) •Meet people outside •Increase natural ventilation when indoors •Keep good hygiene (e.g., regularly, and thoroughly clean your hands, clean and disinfect surfaces frequently)	•F: 60.67% •O: 66.36%
U·S.	2 m	22 million	https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html	•Get vaccinated •Wear a mask properly (ages 2 year and older) (e.g. in indoor areas of public transportation and transportation hubs; in areas with high COVID-19 Community Level) •Wash hands often •Clean and disinfect •Monitor your health daily	•F: 66.80% •O: 77.88%
India	1 m	10.4 million	https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/socialdistancingEnglish.pdf https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Poster_Corona_ad_Eng.pdf	•Wear a mask/cloth to cover your mouth and nose while visiting doctor •Wash hands often •Clean and disinfect •Avoid participating in large gatherings •Throw used tissues into closed bins immediately after use •Cover your nose and mouth with handkerchief/tissue while sneezing and coughing	•F: 64.66% •O: 72.76%
Brazil	2 m	8.01 million	https://www.unasus.gov.br/especial/covid19/pdf/23	•Wear a mask properly •Wash hands often •Clean and disinfect	•F: 78.56% •O: 86.13%
Russia	1.5 m	3.32 million	https://www.sobyanin.ru/https://www.sobyanin.ru/covid-19	•Waived the requirements to wear protective masks since March 15, 2022	•F: 50.72% •O: 55.59%
U·K.	2 m	2.96 million	https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus	•Get vaccinated •Meet people outside •Increase natural ventilation when indoors •Consider wearing a face covering in crowed, enclosed spaces	•F: 73.34% •O: 78.44%
China	1-2 m	0.887 million	https://www.chinacdc.cn/en/COVID19/	•Get vaccinated •Wear a mask properly •Avoid the 3C spaces (closed, crowded, or involve close contact) •Meet people outside •Increase natural ventilation when indoors •Keep good hygiene (e.g., regularly, and thoroughly clean your hands, clean and disinfect surfaces frequently)	•F: 87.05% •O: 89.38%

Note. WHO: World Health Organization; U.S.: United States; U.K.: United Kingdom.