Do you have plans for the weekend? You may want to rethink them.

Last night, the UK joined a wave of countries using emergency social distancing measures to slow the progress of Covid-19The official scientific name for the type of coronavirus that swept the world from March 2020.. The latest research suggests most people will be infected by someone who hasn't developed symptomsCovid-19 causes coughing, a high-temperature, and shortness of breath.. This means it is healthy people socialising who are spreading the virus - and not the sick in hospital.

The solution, experts say, is to limit our interaction with other people, avoid indoor gatherings, concerts, restaurants, and cinemas. But are we really willing to give up our social lives?

The most at risk from the virus are those over 70 and people with underlying health problems. The young have little to fear, so why worry? But some see ItalyThe virus spread rapidly despite attempts to contain it. So far, almost 30,000 people have been infected and over 2,000 have died. as a warning. The journalist Mattia Ferraresi writes: "many of us were too selfish to change our behaviour" and now people are "needlessly dying".

You may be fine, but what about the woman you sit next to on the bus? And if you infect her, who will she infect? And so on. The faster the epidemic spreads, the more people will be at risk and it will be harder for hospitals to cope.

Understanding the theory is one thing, but it is much harder to put into practice. As anthropology shows, we are social animals and we need time spent with family and friends.

And to many, each situation is unique and important. Do you cancel the surprise birthday party you've planned for your friend? Do you stop visiting your 90-year-old grandmother, who lives alone and always looks forward to seeing you? Do you throw away your ticket to see your favourite band (if they haven't cancelled already)?

Each decision is a moral conundrum and it is very easy to make excuses. But many want us to take responsibility. Photos of packed New York bars and cafes at the weekend outraged people online. Shame is a powerful way to get us to change our behaviour, but how can it be morally wrong to socialise?

Some worry that the term "social distancing" is dangerous and misleading. The medical advice is about physical proximityTo be close to someone. Medical advice recommends keeping at least two metres between people to prevent infection., not socialising. In fact, studies show that staying connected to a social network is vital for surviving a crisis. LonelinessResearch links loneliness to a weakened immune system and an increased risk of infection. and isolation can be as dangerous to people's health as viral infection.

It really is wrong now, say our leaders. Doing the right thing is never easy and it is important to stress how serious and exceptional this situation is. By ignoring guidelines and carrying on as normal, we show a lack of respect to the most vulnerable and to the health care workers who face the consequences of our actions.

No, it isn't, say others. Socialising is not a luxury, but a basic necessity that we cannot live without. All activities carry risks and we must consider the pros and cons. There is a serious danger that the fear of contagion will become worse than contagion itself. For example, many people are already living in families or households. What difference if two households agree to share the risk by meeting regularly?