Initial research on social isolation as a method to combat contagious disease included a high-school science fair project modeling social networks. Doctors learned that the spread of disease could be decelerated by disrupting these networks.
Most people became aware of social distancing when guidelines and restrictions related to reducing the spread of the coronavirus circulated worldwide. In a New York Times piece, Eric Lipton and Jennifer Steinhauer tell the origin story of the concept of social distancing—a story that began about a decade and a half ago when George W. Bush, concerned by bioterrorism, requested research to ensure that the United States would be prepared in the event of an outbreak of infectious disease.
When Department of Veterans Affairs physician Dr. Mecher and oncologist and White House advisor Dr. Hatchett presented their research on previous pandemic outbreaks, they received what Dr. Mecher politely describes as an "ugly" response.
"When they presented their plan not long after, it was met with skepticism and a degree of ridicule by senior officials, who like others in the United States had grown accustomed to relying on the pharmaceutical industry, with its ever-growing array of new treatments, to confront evolving health challenges," explain Lipton and Steinhauer. Despite resistance, the Bush administration and the Centers for Disease Control adopted the Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions or NPI as official policy.
FULL STORY: The Untold Story of the Birth of Social Distancing
Coronavirus Daily Deaths Top 4,000 in U.S.
For the first time in the pandemic, over 4,000 Americans died on one day, January 7, from a disease that had no name before Feb. 11, 2020.
Against 'Pandemic-Friendly' Planning
Since COVID-19 won't last forever, planners should not act as if it will, according to this opinion.
Wisconsin in Crisis
Hospitals in parts of Wisconsin are experiencing a medical crisis reminiscent of New York and Arizona—they are running out of beds due to a surge of COVID-19 patients. The outbreak is statewide, showing no relationship with density.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association