social distancing Archives

Visitors wear face masks while watching a presentation in a theater at the Aquarium of the Pacific on its first day of reopening to public in Long Beach, Calif. on March 16, 2021.

How soon will the COVID-19 pandemic end? It depends.

“It could be a matter of weeks,” says Alessandro Vespignani, whose team has created models projecting possible future outbreaks of COVID-19 in the U.S. for the CDC. But that depends on whether people’s real behavior continues to align with the Northeastern team’s scenarios.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki May 5, 2021

‘We all have the same boundaries’

After an emotional farewell with her mother, Katrina Makayan, a sophomore whose father has recovered from COVID-19, moved back to Northeastern last week. She is grateful that her roommates are as serious as she is about keeping healthy and safe.

by Ian Thomsen September 3, 2020

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

It’s an all-out effort to promote safety as Northeastern’s Boston campus reopens

As students, faculty, and staff make their way to residence halls, labs, and offices Monday, they will find a university transformed from top to bottom to promote the safety of the Northeastern community and the surrounding neighborhoods.

by Peter Ramjug August 16, 2020

Stay safe and social during the COVID-19 pandemic at these open spaces across Boston

Being outside where the air is moving and you can keep your distance is the safest option for spending time with friends during the pandemic. Here are some open spaces in Boston that are perfect for relieving stress, getting some fresh air, and staying active.

by Eunice Esomonu August 6, 2020

A smart wearable beacon which can help companies and universities monitor physical distancing and enable contact tracing amid COVID-19. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Are your coworkers too close? This device will let you know.

Northeastern students Jignesh Jadhav and Yiqiang Wang are developing what they describe as wearable beacons—small digital devices that help coworkers stay physically distant, and enables contact tracing.

by Kaitlyn Budion July 22, 2020

Medical personnel prepare to test hundreds of people lined up in vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona. The state has issued a new shutdown order after a sharp increase in coronavirus infections. AP Photo/Matt York

COVID cases are on the rise in the US. Is this the second wave, or are we still in the first?

Frankly, it doesn’t really matter, says Brandon Dionne, an assistant clinical professor in Northeastern’s school of pharmacy. What does matter is that we continue wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, and knowing where the number of cases is surging. “That’s how you’re going to best protect yourself and those around you,” Dionne says.

by Laura Castañón June 30, 2020

Illustration by Gregory Grinnell/Northeastern University

How to win friends (and keep them at a safe distance)

In the age of COVID-19, some people may have difficulty asking others to keep their distance. That feeling stems from fears of tension with others and a misunderstanding of emotions, says William Sharp, an assistant professor of psychology at Northeastern. But all it takes is a little practice.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa June 10, 2020

Circles painted on the grass in San Francisco's Delores Park encourage visitors to keep their distance and help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. AP Photo by Noah Berger

How can we stay safe as coronavirus restrictions are lifted?

Is the mask really necessary? What is the safest way to see my friends and family? Can I get a haircut or go to a restaurant? Do I still have to be careful if I'm young and healthy? Neil Maniar, director of Northeastern's Master of Public Health program, has the answers you need.

by Laura Castañón May 29, 2020

A view of people enjoying the weather while cycling along Hudson River Path on May 16, 2020 in New York City. AP photo by John Nacion/STAR MAX/IPx

People in the US started moving around more before stay-at-home measures were lifted

Even before most states began loosening the measures intended to keep people physically distant and slow the spread of the coronavirus, people were starting to travel further and see each other more, according to research from Northeastern’s Network Science Institute.

by Laura Castañón May 26, 2020

This map, created by Alessandro Vespignani and his team, predicts the number of infections in different parts of the U.S., assuming

Models can predict how COVID-19 will spread. What goes into them, and how can we use what they tell us?

On Thursday, Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern, will sit down for a conversation with Alessandro Vespignani, the director of Northeastern’s Network Science Institute, who is leading one of the major efforts to model this disease.

by Laura Castañón May 13, 2020

social distancing