On Friday, GMM 25 TV channel released a guideline on how to have safe sex during the pandemic.
Among their suggestions are to use a facemask during sex, avoid as much physical contact as possible, and if you must have sex with more than one other person – to have your orgies in a large and well-ventilated room.
Obviously, these don’t feel very scientific to us so we decided to come up with some suggestions based on advice from medical professionals.
Here are some basic guidelines for you:
- Know how the coronavirus spreads
You can get COVID-19 from the infected person — symptomatic and not — through saliva, mucus, breath, or droplets produced when they cough or sneeze. Clearly, the act of kissing should also be premeditated..
Other coronaviruses do not easily spread through sex, but the current coronavirus has also been found in the semen and feces of people with COVID-19.
Harvard researchers confirm that all forms of in-person sexual contact carry a certain level of risk for viral transmission as the virus is readily transmitted by aerosols and fomites.
- Face masks might not cut it
Many health experts have suggested the use of face masks during physical intimacy.
While face masks are known to keep you safe from viral transmission, wearing masks — especially during strenuous activities and exercises — may lead to further breathing difficulties and make it more difficult to draw air into the lungs. This may trigger asthma, anxiety, shortness of breath, and lower oxygen in the lungs.
- It’s safest when your partners are those closest to you
When it comes down to it, you are your safest sexual partner during this pandemic. Masturbation is encouraged by healthcare experts throughout the spectrum because it guarantees that COVID-19 will not spread. This is especially true if you wash your hands, and any sex toys, with soap and water at least 20 seconds before and after sex.
This isn’t really the time to be meeting up and getting up close with strangers or those you hardly know, so the safest partner is going to be someone you live or are in close contact with and have sex only with consenting partners.
- Limit sex and close contact with those outside your household or inner circle
You should limit your sexual partners to as few as possible and only get intimate with those you trust.
To jump on dating apps, hire sex workers, and any other means of trying to connect with strangers right now is not recommended — unless those acts of intimacy are done virtual. Many couples and individuals have found alternative solutions to the social distancing by doing video dates, sexting, reading erotica to one another during this time. However, many have also warned of the dangers of being intimate online on digital services as people should be aware of the risk of screenshots and sexual extortion.
- Talk about COVID-19 risk factors before you decide to have sex
Ask your partners about the symptoms of COVID-19 before you decide to get intimate. Precautionary questions such as: where have you travelled to during the past 14 days? Have you had any symptoms related to the virus in the last two weeks? Do you have a fever, sore throat, cough, or shortness of breath? Have they been tested positive with COVID-19 and recovered in the last 10 days?
- Monitor yourself before you decide to get intimate with anybody else
Just as you should be cautious of those you come into contact with, you should also make sure you yourself are safe to those around you too.
Closely monitor yourself for symptoms, consider getting a swab or saliva test for if you have the coronavirus, take precaution interacting with those at risk for severe COVID-19 infection such as those over 65 or with preexisting medical conditions, and be vigilant with yourself by having a healthy hygiene.
