Self-isolation, social distancing and lockdown will be the defining terms of 2020.

But what that actually means - as countries around the world battle desperately to stop the spread of coronavirus - appears to be differing wildly.

The potential success in fighting COVID-19 will come down to two factors: whether individual nations can manage to stop people from socialising and whether they are doing enough testing to find and isolate the virus.

All Australian states have asked anyone who has been overseas or in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days.

Confirmed coronavirus patients have been told to isolate at home, and go to hospital only if they are struggling.

Borders have been shut, major sports have been cancelled, non-essential businesses such as cafes closed, and Australians have been asked to keep at least 1.5m away from each other.

Beachgoers at Bondi Beach on March 20 forced the NSW Government to close the iconic tourist attraction. Credit: JOHN FOTIADIS / AAP

Most states are relying on individuals - increasingly worried human beings - to do the right thing.

Some are stepping up actions as citizens, while others are refusing to comply.

On Tuesday, New South Wales police minister David Elliot told Seven’s Sunrise the state government was considering using geolocation data from mobile phones to ensure people were complying with self-isolation rules.

“I’ve already had preliminary discussions about monitoring people’s mobile phones,” Elliott said.

In the video below, how police plan to use mobile phones to track people self-isolating

Play Video NSW Police Minister David Elliott says the NSW government is considering using mobile phone geolocation data to ensure people comply with self-isolation restrictions NSW Police Minister David Elliott says the NSW government is considering using mobile phone geolocation data to ensure people comply with self-isolation restrictions

Police can currently check on those ordered to self-isolate and the general public is encouraged to dob in anyone they know is ignoring the restrictions.

“The message has got to be clear that this is serious, you have to take responsibility for your own actions, and if you don’t, the police have got the powers to monitor you,” Elliott said.

Precedent

The Singaporean government has been using mobile phone monitoring to ensure self-isolation compliance since the coronavirus crisis began.

Suspected cases awaiting testing at home receive an SMS from the government several times a day.

They then need to click on a link that will show their location.

Anyone caught cheating, by leaving their phone at home or with a friend, faces harsh penalties.

The government also conducts random spot checks.

Accelerating infections

On Tuesday, the World Health Organisation warned the coronavirus pandemic was accelerating and more aggressive tactics were needed to fight it.

The WHO said there are now 300,000 confirmed cases worldwide.

The first 100,000 were reported in the first 67 days of the virus, the second 100,000 cases came 11 days later and the next 100,000 cases just four days after that, the global health body said.

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Different nations are using different tactics to isolate people.

But a clear trend has emerged - the more compliant the population, and the more testing that is done, the more the coronavirus curve will flatten.

In the graph below infection rates are tracked by day after 100 coronavirus cases

China

Wuhan, China, was the first location to detect COVID-19.

The city of 11 million went into lockdown on January 23.

China’s strategy for containment was called “brutal but effective”.

People wearing facemasks walk through otherwise empty streets in Wuhan. Credit: Arek Rataj / AP

Within hours of the announcement, all public transport into and out of the city was shut down and private vehicles were banned from the roads unless people obtained special permission.

Shops, except for those selling medicine, were closed.

At the time of the outbreak, children were on school holidays.

They were told not to return to classes.

File image of a medical staffer of a community health station in Wuhan. Credit: Getty Images

In the initial stages of the lockdown, people were allowed out of their homes.

But those restrictions were tightened as the virus spread.

Officials went door to door conducting health checks and every building had a security guard to take people’s temperature as they entered.

Anyone with the virus was taken from their homes and forced into isolation, away from their family.

By mid-February, China’s coronavirus curve had begun to flatten.

South Korea

Rather than enforce lockdowns or travel bans, South Korea asked the public to stay indoors, avoid public events, wear masks and practice good hygiene.

So far, the public has largely complied.

The biggest reason cited for South Korea’s flattening curve has been extensive coronavirus testing, which is available at hundreds of clinics, as well as some 50 drive-through testing stations.

Government officials spray disinfectant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in front of a branch of the Shincheonji Church in South Korea. Credit: Kim Hyun-tae / AP

Testing is free for anyone showing symptoms, who has travelled overseas or who has had contact with a coronavirus case.

South Koreans who don’t meet the criteria can still get a test, they just need to pay 160,000 won (AUD215).

More people per capita have been tested for coronavirus in South Korea than in any other nation.

With confirmed cases now in the hundreds, there’s been criticism around the rate of testing in Australia compared to places like South Korea. Credit: Getty Images

And the extensive protocol has been effective at finding cases in the community.

Once identified, infected patients, and those with whom they have been in contact, are placed in mandatory quarantine until they have recovered.

Italy

Italy has shut down non-essential businesses and barred any travel within the country.

Police squads check documents and will fine anyone outside without a valid excuse.

Italians can still go jogging if they limit their runs to laps around the block, and they can walk their dogs and visit the supermarket.

A man wearing a mask stands at an open grocery store in Torino, Italy on Saturday. Credit: Marco Alpozzi / AP

Italy does, however, have a less compliant population - and that’s frustrating authorities.

“I’m getting news that some (people) would like to throw graduation parties,” Vincenzo De Luca, the president of Campania, Italy, said in a Facebook live statement.

“We will send police. With flame-throwers.”

Chevron Right Icon ‘Where the f*** are you all going?’

Massimiliano Presciutti, the mayor of Reggio Calabria, complained on Facebook that people were using their dogs as a poor excuse to leave their house for unnecessary reasons.

“Where the f*** are you all going? You and your dogs… which must have an inflamed prostate?” he said in a video circulating on social media.

Testing matters

Italy’s coronavirus testing rate differs greatly by region and this could tell us something about how to slow the curve.

The region of Veneto has seen a slower rate of increase in new cases and deaths than Lombardy, despite both regions detecting early cases of coronavirus.

Veneto imposed travel restrictions early and started testing all residents who had come into contact with coronavirus patients, even if they weren’t showing symptoms.

Lombardy tested only residents who showed symptoms and it faced difficulty in enforcing self-isolation and lockdown rules.

United Kingdom

The UK initially planned only to isolate residents aged over 70, until so many people had been infected that herd immunity came into play.

That changed as infection rates - and death rates - crept higher.

Deaths in the UK jumped by 54 to 335 on Monday as the government announced new measures to attempt to stop the spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now asked all Britons to stay home, almost without exception.

In the video below, British PM Boris Johnson announces strict new coronavirus rules

Play Video UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced tough new measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced tough new measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

“There are only a handful of exemptions - shopping for necessities, one form of exercise daily, seeking medical assistance and to travel to and from work where absolutely necessary,” he said.

Although “unprecedented”, the restrictions, which at this stage will be in place for three weeks, are similar to those of other nations.

New Zealand

New Zealand will implement a near-complete societal lockdown from Thursday.

Only industries deemed essential - including health and emergency services workers, police, some public servants and media - will be allowed to continue.

Otherwise, citizens will be asked to stay home.

New Zealand is toughening public health measures after recording eight fresh coronavirus cases. Credit: REUTERS

Kiwis will be allowed outside to walk the dog, or exercise by themselves, or to visit supermarkets or health services.

Human interaction will be limited to within households.

Military personnel will join with police in enforcing nationwide self-isolation.

Early action

New Zealand is attempting to capitalise on low numbers of infection to shut coronavirus down before cases rise exponentially.

“We need to act now, or risk the virus taking hold as it has elsewhere,” Ardern said.

“We currently have 102 cases, but so did Italy once.”

Action needed

Australia has just recorded its eighth coronavirus death.

Authorities have pleaded with people to stop socialising and to stay home as much as possible.

Pubs, clubs, cafes and all non-essential businesses are shut in many states, with only “essential” work being encouraged.

Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory have all shut their borders.

The Army has been deployed to help with logistics, transport and health services in the event that our health system shows signs of breaking under the demand of coronavirus patients, as it has in other nations.

The Defence Force will conduct checks of people trying to enter the Northern Territory. Credit: AAP

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has urged Australians to follow the advice and practise social distancing.

“These measures are absolutely about saving lives,” he said.

“I say to everybody, please, where you can, be at home, and take your time to think about whether or not you go out, and don’t get into large gatherings.

“There is a reason for this - and this is because this is a disease that is spread through close proximity.”

What Australians choose to do now will determine how successful we are in fighting coronavirus as a nation - together.