Prevention tools intended
Neither the kiss, nor the kisses? With the coronavirus epidemic raging in France, "barrier" gestures are in order, recommending limiting physical proximity. What about sex in all of this?
Do not shake hands or kiss your face, avoid touching your face, sneezing into your elbow ... In the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, governments and scientists are increasing the recommendations restricting contact between people, in order to limit the spread of the disease. Covid-19. But just as it is recommended to avoid kissing your colleague, should we ban languid kisses and carnal exchanges in our privacy? Sanitary rules have not clearly advanced in the sexual sphere.
As stated by Santé Publique France, "it is likely that this coronavirus is similar to other human coronaviruses, which are generally transmitted during close contact by inhaling infectious droplets emitted during sneezing or coughing by the patient or after a contact with surfaces freshly contaminated with these secretions ".
As a reminder, Covid-19 is a new coronavirus, which scientists and experts are still discovering and trying to understand. "Important gaps remain," wrote the World Health Organization (WHO) in a report in late February. Certain points are still difficult to determine clearly, such as all the parameters relating to its transmission.
Not considered an STI at this time
Exchanging kisses with people carrying the coronavirus is obviously a risk of being contaminated, since it is transmitted by postilions according to current observations. However, Covid-19 is not yet cataloged as a sexually transmitted infection.
“Although coronaviruses are not usually transmitted sexually, it is too early to know,” writes The New-York Times, based on statements from the World Health Organization. To completely avoid the spread of the coronavirus, any carnal exchange is therefore, in itself, to be avoided.
"Any sex involves close contact. This is the definition of close contact," said the American media Vox, Anna Muldon, researcher in infectious diseases at the University of Arizona. "There is therefore no way to have it without risking transmission."
"As the name suggests, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spread mainly through sex," says the WHO. "There are over thirty infectious agents, bacteria, viruses or parasites, which can be transmitted in this way." Among the most common are chlamydia, syphilis, genital herpes, infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B.
The coronavirus, not yet a killer
Despite the various warnings issued, 66% of French people polled said they had kissed people they know in recent days and 61% had shook hands with them, according to an Elabe / Berger-Levrault poll for BFMTV on Wednesday.
Questioned by AFP, several people even declared that this period of health crisis did not necessarily restrain them from meeting strangers, and exchanging certain fluids with them. On the contrary, a woman says that she has never had so many "matches" on the Tinder dating application, "I have the impression that it is boosting, everyone is connecting, getting loose", she says. . This application, however, warns its users, between two "matches" of people, slipped a "warning card" referring to the WHO instructions on "barrier gestures".
"If you feel that there is even a chance that you will feel bad, for whatever reason, don't go to the bar, don't use Grindr or Tinder [dating apps , editor's note], that day, "says Anna Muldon.
In the United States, which is beginning to take measures to combat the spread of Covid-19, an orgy planned in Los Angeles has been maintained, reports the New-York Post. The organizers, the Snctm sex club, assure that sanitary measures will be taken: disinfection of the premises, selection of participants, more soap and disinfectant ...
