When you hear the phrase “social distancing,” is the first thing you think “six feet apart?”

If so, that’s completely understandable. We’ve heard about the importance of staying 6 feet away from people to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

It makes sense, since close contact with an individual who has a virus is very often how viruses spread. 

And that, for the most part, seems to be true with this coronavirus. 

Two different studies from China found that people living under the same roof as a person with the disease were more likely to get the virus than other close contacts who weren’t under the same roof.

But that doesn’t (at all) mean that you’re safe as long as no one in your household has the virus. 

In fact, while 6 feet is a safe distance to keep between yourself and someone walking on the street, a plethora of evidence suggests that indoors — like in a grocery store — 6 feet might not be enough to protect you. (continued)