The mid-19th century moral panic over garroting gangs (urban street muggers) reached its absurdist conclusion in this Punch Magazine cartoon, suggesting the invention of a reinforced hoop skirt frame to keep garroters at a safe distance.
Sadly, while scholars agree that the garroting panic was largely driven by newspaper sales, the threat of COVID-19 is all too real. Here’s a handy guide from the BBC on the daily practicalities of keeping safe distance:
And here’s a short video on self-care during trying times and staying socially connected while physically apart: