Here's how to safely 'hook up' during lockdown

Lockdowns can make it hard to get intimate. But, if you do want to get jiggy with someone outside your bubble, Dr Michael Brady has some suggestions.

Here's how to safely 'hook up' during lockdown
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Here's how to safely 'hook up' during lockdown

People with partners in different houses or even those who just want to pair up for some stress release have been advised to take precautions when getting intimate to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

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The perfect environment for COVID-19 transmission

Getting between the sheets invites a host of breathing and bodily fluids that makes the perfect environment for the transmission of COVID-19.

That's why Dr Michael Brady, medical director of the UK sex health charity Terrence Higgins Trust has given everyone some recommendations that take the idea of'safe sex' to a whole other level. He stated:

Sex is a very important part of life and, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we all need to find ways to balance our need for sex and intimacy with the risks of the spread of COVID-19.

How can you 'get intimate' while still being COVID safe?

So, in order to keep everyone safe, Dr Brady has advised those who don't live together to have sex using positions where the participants face away from each other. He also suggests keeping your masks on during your throes of passion to make sure any droplets don't get launched into the air.

To add to the safety procedures, the Terrence Higgins Trust has also claimed that sexual practices of blow jobs and other oral practises should be avoided as traces of the disease have been found in a number of bodily fluids.

Instead, The Terrence Higgins Trust recommends mutual masturbation, toys and cam sex as safer options:

Masturbation, using sex toys and phone or cam sex are the safest options as they can be done without being in close proximity to anyone else. Just make sure that if you're having cam sex you don't share images that might identify you, unless you want to, and that you aren't pressured into anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.

And most of all the trust recommends for those getting down and dirty to wash their hands both before and after for 20 seconds:

Washing your hands for more than 20 seconds (or using hand sanitiser) before and after sex will also reduce the risk.

But even without a pandemic, we should all be washing our hands after getting busy.

Virtual sex activity increased during lockdown, study finds Virtual sex activity increased during lockdown, study finds