COVID-19 will bring with it a crisis of loneliness — and to solve it, we’re going to have to get creative.Coronavirus may have long-term social behavior effect.How Is the Coronavirus Outbreak Affecting Your Life?

What is social distancing?

Put simply, the idea is to maintain a distance between you and other people — in this case, at least six feet.

This strategy saved thousands of lives both during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 and, more recently, in Mexico City during the 2009 flu pandemic.

 The coronavirus has changed how we work, play and learn: Schools are closing, sports leagues have been canceled, and many people have been asked to work from home.

As the pandemic becomes a bigger and bigger part of daily life, researchers are warning of changes in how we think, behave and relate to one another.

This crisis may be unprecedented, but there are always patterns in how humans behave when thrust into long periods of isolation and danger.

Large gatherings are going to be rare. Many weddings, sporting events or concerts would be ruled out. And a full return to commuting by public transit will also be delayed. Malls, gyms, restaurants, bars and places of worship, the list is endless.

People may struggle to regulate their emotions, finding anger and panic come more easily. There could be upticks in insomnia and substance abuse.

Feelings of isolation and loneliness can increase the likelihood of depression, high blood pressure, and death from heart disease. They can also affect the immune system’s ability to fight infection — a fact that’s especially relevant during a pandemic. Studies have shown that loneliness can activate our fight-or-flight function, causing chronic inflammation and reducing the body’s ability to defend itself from viruses.