Practicing Effective Social Distancing at Texas A&M-Galveston    

Recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) uses the term “social distancing” in reference to tamping down on the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19. 

According to the CDC, social distancing includes “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.” These measures are implemented to keep people from being in large groups, which would increase their chance of exposure to someone who may have been infected with coronavirus or COVID-19. 

If you must go into a public space, do your best to keep a distance of 6 feet from other people and avoid coming into contact with them. If you must go into a workplace or live with multiple people in your household, think about taping off areas within this distance area and do your best to maintain it. 

On campus at Texas A&M University at Galveston, that means students, faculty and staff all keeping a distance from each other. Classes have been canceled this week and will resume exclusively online March 23 – April 28. Faculty have been encouraged to teach using virtual means off-campus. Non-essential staff and personnel are able and encouraged to work remotely. Many on-campus events have been canceled, postponed, or moved to a virtual environment. 

In the Captain’s Landing, Texas A&M-Galveston's main on-campus dining area, tables have been removed to facilitate and encourage only small groups. Tables have also been manipulated so that diners are seated six feet apart.  

Social distancing also extends to the cancellation of events and closings of larger traditional community meeting spaces, such as:

• Schools and daycare centers
• Churches, synagogues, temples or places of worship
• Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, etc.
• Crowded public places such as malls, movie theaters, stadiums, etc.
• Work-related conferences
• University or college classes
• Public transportation-related areas like subways, airports or buses, etc. 
• Sporting events
• Theme parks
• Event spaces designated for weddings, birthdays or family reunions

Seriously consider any vacations you have planned. If hosting or attending a wedding or similar event, consider postponing or reconsider attending. 

Working from home instead of at the office, switching to online classes, visiting loved ones electronically and canceling or postponing conferences and large meetings may help limit the spread of the virus. Though these measures may seem disruptive or extreme, they are being recommended at the highest national and global levels to ensure safety. 

Practicing social distancing by staying at home, out of public spaces and limiting your contact with other people is one of the best-known precautions to help keep yourself, the public and your loved ones safe. 

For more information on Texas A&M-Galveston’s coronavirus and COVID-19 response, please visit: www.tamug.edu/covid-19/.