The difference between shelter-in-place, physical distancing, quarantine and self-isolation

Let me get this off my chest. Too many ignorant people are using the terms self-isolation, social distancing, quarantine, and shelter-in-place interchangeably. These terms have specific meanings and are not interchangeable.

Here are the CDC and government-defined terms. Do not make up your own meanings and learn to use these word carefully. It leads to confusion and the spread of misinformation and has consequences.

  • Isolation means the separation of a person or group of people known or reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease and potentially infectious from those who are not infected to prevent the spread of the communicable disease. Isolation for public health purposes may be voluntary or compelled by federal, state, or local public health order.

  • Social distancing means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.

  • Quarantine in general means the separation of a person or group of people reasonably believed to have been exposed to a communicable disease but not yet symptomatic, from others who have not been so exposed, to prevent the possible spread of the communicable disease.

  • To Shelter-in-Place means to remain in your home or workplace during an emergency, and protect yourself there.

Physical Distancing

Images from around Palmer Square, Nassau Street, and Witherspoon Streets in Princeton, New Jersey the day after the governor issued Executive Order No. 107 requiring residents to Shelter-In-Place and for all non-essential retail stores to close indefinitely.

Because the phrase "social distancing", like similar phrases — "extrajudicial killing" and "collateral damage" and "friendly fire" and "preemptive strike" and "enhanced interrogation" and "ethnic cleansing" — doesn’t convey meaning, I'm using the phrase "physical distancing".

Palmer Square, Princeton | 18 March, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/8.0 | ISO 400
Empty sidewalk, Nassau Street, Princeton | 18 March, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/8.0 | ISO 400
Bank of American, Hamilton Jewelers | 18 March, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/8.0 | ISO 400
Do you know where you're going to, Princeton | 18 March, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/8.0 | ISO 400
Walk the dog, Nassau Street, Princeton | 18 March, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/8.0 | ISO 400
Where are you? Palmer Square? | 18 March, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Albert Hinds Plaza, Princeton | 18 March, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/8.0 | ISO 200
Cocktails, Wine & Beer | 18 March, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/8.0 | ISO 400
Since 1955, Landau, Nassau Street, Princeton | 18 March, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/8.0 | ISO 400