Ebola separations: trust, crisis, and ‘social distancing’ in West Africa

Abstract

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa involved the introduction of new forms of social and physical separation that aimed to curtail the spread of the disease. People changed the ways they lived to avoid contact with those who might be sick. A suite of governmental instruments was introduced, ranging from by-laws and public health campaigns to the use of specialist treatment centres and military force. These events transformed social connections and affected possibilities for trust in intimate, governmental, and therapeutic relations. Drawing upon fieldwork in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea, this article explores these forms of separation and social distance ethnographically, with a focus on material objects, touch, and spaces of separation. In doing so, we contribute to discussions on the constitution of trust and distance within social relations, and the ways in which separation can enable certain kinds of closeness. Our analysis offers insights for those seeking to understand the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the ways that people relate to, and care for, others.