No sex please: Charities warn against casual bonking as it breaches social distancing rules and could spread coronavirus
- The safest way to have sex is with a regular partner in the same household
- Experts said specific rules are needed so people know how to have sex safely
- Early research has shown COVID-19 can travel through oral transmission
A charity has warned against casual sex during the coronavirus lockdown because it breaches social distancing guidelines.
The Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine is among several organisations that have told Australians to avoid sex with multiple partners.
However with Australia predicted to stay in lockdown until October, or until a vaccine is developed, it is likely many will ignore the rules.
While people are warned not to have sex as it can easily spread coronavirus, experts are calling for specific rules to be set by the government so people know how to have sex as safe as possible
Associate Professor Edwina Wright, told the Australian Financial Review governments should consider introducing guidelines to keep people safe.
‘It would be wise for governments and jurisdictions to start preparing guidance on harm minimisation to help avoid COVID-19 transmission during casual sex,’ she said.
While coronavirus is not a sexually transmitted disease, the intimate nature of sex leaves people vulnerable to catching the virus.
Last month, Prof Wright was placed as the chairman of a task force to monitor how those with blood-borne viruses such as HIV cope with the virus, but there is little data to detail exactly how it spreads during sex.
‘Any sex that involves kissing would increase the risk of being exposed to infected airway secretions, and a person may touch a surface contaminated by the virus during sex and acquire the infection that way,’ she said.
Associate Professor Edwina Wright said having sex with a regular partner is the safest option during the lockdown, but if either party contracted coronavirus or was placed in quarantine, intercourse would need to remain virtual
She said having sex with a regular partner is the safest option during the lockdown, but if either party contracted coronavirus or was placed in quarantine, intercourse would need to remain virtual.
Professor Wright said early research has indicated the virus may spread through oral transmission.
‘We do know that in patients with severe COVID-19 illness, a proportion may have faecal samples that remain positive for the presence of the virus RNA for several weeks after the respiratory samples have become negative for the virus.’
If comes after Victorian government back-flipped on a decision last week to bar couples living in separate house from visiting each other.
Victorian Chief Health Officer Prof Brett Sutton said there would be an exception for couples who do not live in the same household.
However casual hook-ups with strangers are still understood to be banned.
‘Regarding ‘Stay at Home’ rules: We have no desire to penalise individuals who are staying with or meeting their partners if they don’t usually reside together,’ he said.