COVID-19 (coronavirus) quarantine, self-isolation and social distancing Learn the difference between quarantine and self-isolation amid the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic — and why it matters. You've read about people self-quarantining, social distancing, or isolating themselves during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. You may be confused about the various terms and wonder what you should be doing. These terms describe approaches for limiting the spread of disease during epidemics and pandemics: Social distancing. Keeping space between yourself and other people outside your household to prevent the spread of disease. Quarantine. Separating people and limiting movement of people who have or may have been exposed to the disease to see if they become ill. Isolation. Separating people who are ill from others to keep the disease from spreading. Social distancing You're likely practicing social distancing if there's ongoing community spre