With lockdowns being imposed in many countries, the government of each is issuing guidelines or protocols for citizens to follow and stay safe. While many of these revolve around public places being shut, travel restrictions and precautions against COVID-19, NYC, and the Netherlands also have guidelines for safe sex.
The Netherlands has been in lockdown since 23 March and allows residents to invite up to three visitors into their homes if they follow social distancing i.e. maintain a 1.5-meter distance. The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) also has some “advice on sexuality in times of corona.”
According to The Guardian, for people in relationships, the advisory says,
“Sex with your regular partner is possible if you want both. After all, you are already very close and it is practically impossible to avoid each other physically. Don’t have sex with your partner if they have been isolated because of (suspected) coronavirus infection. Sex with yourself or with others at a distance is possible (think of telling erotic stories, masturbating together).”
For those without partners, however, BBC quoted the advisory saying,
“It makes sense that as a single you also want to have physical contact. Discuss how best to do this together. For example, meet with the same person to have physical or sexual contact (for example, a cuddle buddy or ‘sex buddy’), provided you are free of illness. Make good arrangements with this person about how many other people you both see. The more people you see, the greater the chance of (spreading) the coronavirus.”
Some very sound advice there but for those of us living with our desi parents, we have no option but to be #AtmaNirbhar.