As many around the world are locked down or moving in that direction due to the COVID19 outbreak, a local health body is warning against anyone having casual sex during this period.
New Zealand was the latest country to move to full lockdown overnight with the country banning any movement outside of your own home apart from visits to the supermarket or medical services.
New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) has released a statement today warning against breaking the requirements of the lockdown to engage in casual or anonymous sex.
NZAF CEO Dr Jason Myers said the lockdown is in place to keep transmissions of COVID-19 as low as possible and to protect vulnerable members of our communities.
“People should not even be considering leaving the house for casual or anonymous sex and should not be inviting people into their homes,” Myers said.
“We have tools such as condoms to prevent HIV and other STIs, but COVID-19 is not an STI and requires different prevention measures.
“We acknowledge that sex and intimacy are great ways to help stay connected and boost mental wellbeing, and we acknowledge that sex will continue to be a part of our lives in the coming weeks and months.”
While COVID-19 isn’t a sexually transmitted infection, close contact with a person infected with COVID-19 is extremely high risk.
Any sexual contact, including kissing, involves an exchange of bodily fluids and creates an even higher risk of transmission.
NZAF recommends consensual phone sex, webcam sex and masturbating as alternatives to casual sex during the lockdown.
“People living with HIV or other auto-immune concerns will understandably be worried about their health if they were to contract the virus,” Dr Myers continued.
“We can help alleviate those fears by changing our sexual practices and staying indoors to keep community transmissions of COVID-19 low.”
At present, there is no evidence to determine whether people living with HIV are at greater risk of acquiring the new coronavirus or developing a more severe disease as a result of that infection.
Last Updated on Mar 26, 2020
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