Pastors wearing face masks attend a service at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, March 15, 2020. — AP
Pastors wearing face masks attend a service at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, March 15, 2020. — AP

Social distancing could qualify as an oxymoron in Italy, where walking arm-in-arm with friends, kissing neighbours in greeting and patting the heads of babies are part of the demonstrative culture.

But the coronavirus has rapidly redefined the concept of respecting personal space for tactile Italians, as well as for South Koreans, Filipinos, Americans, Spaniards and citizens of many other crowded parts of the world.

See more pictures here.

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