New Yorkers are being encouraged to make sex “a little kinky” by wearing a mask and getting creative to avoid too much body contact.
The New York City Health Department has released updated guidelines to help people get intimate while avoiding spreading coronavirus as best they can.
With Covid-19 spread through saliva and breathing, face masks are advised as are other physical barriers, such as walls – with the agency also reminding people “you are your safest sex partner”.
“Be creative with sexual positions and physical barriers, like walls, that allow sexual contact while preventing close face to face contact,” the guidelines say.
It also encourages couples masturbate together as they can remain at a safe social distance but admits despite the pandemic people “will and should have sex”.
The transmissibility of the killer bug through sexual intercourse is yet to be studied closely though scientists have found traces of Covid-19 in men’s semen.
Those planning to have sex with someone outside their household, meanwhile, are advised to pick a trusted partner who is happy to discuss the risk factors.
The guidelines somewhat prohibits sex between more than two people as “large gatherings of any type are not safe during Covid-19”.
It says people should find larger open spaces with good ventilation, and warns against meeting people from online and instead stick to “sexy ‘Zoom parties'”.
Other parts of the US have released similar guidelines, with Austin in Texas advising people to “stay physically distant from your honey” before listing creative suggestions for social distancing.
It comes as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a further lifting of restrictions on Wednesday, set to come into play from Saturday.
It means people from two different households can finally break the two-metre rule to meet for the first time in almost three months.
And some separated couples can finally reunite for overnight stays and sex.