1.1 DISRUPTION TO DAILY INTERACTION: PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES On 12 March, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) identified necessary measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic,2 including: — immediately isolating symptomatic persons suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19; — s uspending mass gatherings; — social and physical distancing measures at workplaces (e.g. teleworking); — c losure of schools; — lockdown of residential areas with high levels of community transmission. Such measures can affect many of the rights enshrined in the Charter, including the rights to: liberty and security (Article 6), respect for private and family life (Article 7), freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 10), freedom of expression and information (Article 11), freedom of assembly and of association (Article 12), freedom of the arts and sciences (Article 13) and freedom of movement and of residence (Article 45). They can also affect the rights of specific groups including children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. All EU Member States introduced physical and social distancing measures at different times and with varying intensity. At the early stages of the outbreak, countries ordered infected and at-risk individuals to self-quarantine.3 As numbers of infections rose, most countries instituted social distancing measures for the general population, such as suspension of mass gatherings, stay-at-home requirements, closure of non-essential businesses and public spaces, and physical distancing when outside the house. 16