Social distancing in Canada means standing a hockey stick apart

It doesn't get any more Canadian than using the instrument of our country's favourite sport as a measuring tool during a pandemic.

Canadians understand that when a health official asks the nation to keep a distance of two metres apart from each other, they really mean the length of a hockey stick.

To practise social distancing stand 6 feet apart or as we Canadians put it 'a hockey stick'.
— Blair (@JumpedUpChuck) March 31, 2020

Canadians across the country have already converted the measurement into hockey terms as a way of understanding how to practice social distancing in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

In Canada, social distancing means keeping apart by the length of a hockey stick. This is how far we usually stand from each other. Not a problem. #covid19Canada
— Michael MacKay (@mhmck) March 31, 2020

Health officials have asked everyone to stay home and self-isolate, only leaving for essentials and fresh air breaks. When venturing out, keeping a hockey stick apart is critical and ignoring this could lead to a fine and potential jail time.

In Canada, our medical officer of health just described social distancing as staying one hockey stick’s length away.

Everyone said “oh” and took two steps back. #COVID19 #coronavirus
— President of the Dr Deena fan club (@atypicalalbertn) March 31, 2020

Signs posted in Toronto parks specifically noted that people should keep a distance of " about the length of a hockey stick" apart while outside.

🇨🇦 🦠 pic.twitter.com/QCC2L0Ogps
— ✌🏼Kat Barrell ✌🏼 (@KatBarrell) March 31, 2020

This isn't the first time Canadians have had to use hockey as a tool for COVID-19 comprehension.

In Canada we’re told to use the length of a Hockey stick as a barometer for social distancing. Failure to comply can result in a 5 minute major and in some cases a $5,000 fine which is the maximum under the current NHL CBA. pic.twitter.com/JcElwfxGVG
— Gene Valaitis (@genevalaitis) March 31, 2020

Back in February the Toronto Star called it "the Wayne Gretzky of viruses" which had the rest of the world laughing at our Canadianess.

This is the only way Canadians can process any type of information pic.twitter.com/jAs29Le9si
— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) February 29, 2020

People in other countries joined in the game of finding the object that most represents its national identity and measuring it in social distancing terms.