The most significant consequence of the current COVID-19 outbreak, other than the medical and health-related impact, is the implementation of social distancing measures. Social distancing can be described as the practice of deliberate avoidance of social contact both in indoor and outdoor settings.
Governments all over the world are recommending social distancing as the number one measure of protection against the coronavirus. Some governments are even enforcing these rules through strict laws and restrictions in an attempt to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases within their borders. Social distancing during such a difficult period is impacting people’s professional and personal lives.
Without face-to-face communication, people are lacking one of the most important needs of human beings – the interaction with others. Luckily, we now have the technology that allows long-distance communication, which is a luxury people could only dream of during the 1820 plague and other outbreaks throughout history.
Why is Communication Important
Lack of communication can cause problems in both personal and professional spheres of life. The idea behind social distancing is to reduce physical contact among people and thus slow down the spreading of the virus. However, some people have taken it so seriously that they’ve cut down all communication with friends and family, which is the last thing you want to do during this period. With the entire situation being as stressful as it is, it is important to have the right support from loved ones.
Perhaps a more correct term for social distancing would be physical distancing, as it implies physical boundaries, not a break in communication. Therefore, it is important to stay in touch with people, which we can still do through digital technologies. Besides, communication is mandatory for teams and employees working remotely. With video calls and communication platforms, teams can work more efficiently and get tasks done in a more organized manner.
Use Communication Tools to Stay in Touch
The internet and advanced communication technologies are certainly making the social isolation period easier for us. We can use various tools to keep in touch with others and entertain ourselves during quarantine. Some of the most popular long-distance communication tools include social networks, Skype, and FaceTime. For a more professional setting, workers can use Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or other chat platforms to communicate about their projects and assignments.
Overall, there are more than enough solutions designed to maintain communication during social distancing. The only problem is the security concerns behind the excessive use of digital platforms for communications. Namely, with millions of people spending time at home, browsing the web and sharing information faster than ever, there are new opportunities for hackers to get their hands on private and confidential data.
Therefore, don’t forget to secure your communication channels by using a VPN for extra encryption and implementing other safety measures to prevent data breaches. These measures include good password management, the use of anti-virus software, as well as malware scanning practices.
As long as you’re keeping security in mind, communication with friends and family shouldn’t be a challenge even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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