I'm seeing more than a few people who speak as if they aren't distinguishing between social or physical distancing on the one hand and self isolation on the other. My understanding is that medically these are two distinct processes, each of which is most suitable to be initiated by one of two different triggers. Self isolation is triggered or necessitated when during this pandemic one returns from another country and/or is experiencing symptoms of CORVID-19 and/or suspects or knows that one has been in contact with a person or persons know to be infected. It's done by sequestering in ones residence or a place built for it like a hospital ward. In contrast, social or physical (I like physical because socializing at a distance is possible) distancing is done in public by increasing the usual personal space; in the case of the novel corona virus it's increased to 2 meters. Physical distancing is a response to an epidemic or a pandemic. Self isolation is added as a response to emergent symptoms and/or the presence of specific risk factors over and above the existence or possible presence of a pathogen known to be potentially present everywhere, that is, the existence of a pandemic itself. If during a pandemic one prefers to self isolate in the absence of the necessitating triggers, I suppose that is a matter of personal preference, a bit of an overreaction in which there is little harm.. But self isolation isn't thought of as necessary unless its accepted trigger conditions are present. If I've got the wrong idea about this, I apologize. But that's my take on it.