SOCIAL IMPACT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING ON RESIDENTS OF LOW-COST APARTMENTS DURING THE CONDITIONAL MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER (CMCO) IN SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

Abstract

The spread of the coronavirus since the end of 2019 turned the pandemic into the main global health challenge. One preventative measure has been social distancing, which requires physical distance to be maintained between people who are not members of the same household. The implementation of social distancing has impacted many aspects of daily life, especially learning, working, physical movement, and sports/recreational activities. In 2021, a study was conducted among residents of a low-cost apartment complex in Selangor, Malaysia to examine the social impacts of social distancing. Analysis of the data collected from a questionnaire survey revealed that for most respondents, social distancing affected the performance of their daily activities in most places. Of the seven (7) types of social activities examined, family life and neighbourhood/community relationships were less negatively affected in terms of quality of life. Meanwhile, their quality of life was reduced, especially in relation to sports/recreational activities and transportation/physical movement. Lifestyle changes or the new normal for the purpose of implementing social distancing for public/social activities should be studied further to reduce the negative social impact of this measure.