Your Social Bubble: What it is and why it matters

We’ve been hearing a lot about our bubbles lately. We’ve been told to stay inside of them. We’re reminded to keep them small. And we’re expected to know how to do that.

But what exactly is a social bubble and why should we care?

Your bubble is the people with whom you have close contact. A close contact is someone you live with or someone you have been closer than 2 metres to for longer than 15 minutes without wearing a mask or physical distancing.

Your bubble includes your household and extended household. It’s the people who live in the same house as you, the people who you hug and touch, and the people who are part of your daily and weekly routines.

Your bubble should be 15 people or fewer. It can include family or friends (as long as the total number doesn’t exceed 15) and it must remain consistent. You should aim to keep your bubble as small as you can.
Note: Although your bubble can contain up to a maximum of 15 people, the limit on indoor private gatherings held in private dwellings is a maximum of 10, as per the Public Health Order.

Your bubble includes only close contacts. For example, the people you live with or have been closer than 2 metres to for greater than 15 minutes without wearing a mask or physical distancing. If you are friends with someone and spend time with them outside of work or school without physical distancing or wearing a mask, this person is part of your bubble.

Yes! The only way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to limit your contact with other people and to follow personal safety precautions like physical distancing, wearing a mask, washing your hands, staying home when sick and getting tested.

Need another reason to keep your bubble small?

Chew on this: One person with COVID-19 attended a social gathering. This led to 40 COVID-19 infections and 243 close contacts in just 12 days.