Expert Says: Mask Up for Sex During COVID-19 Crisis

Wear a mask and avoid kissing during sex.

That’s the advice of Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer. Tam warns that people should practice safe sex during the coronavirus pandemic, especially if they are engaging in activity with people outside their household.

“Sexual health is an important part of our overall health. However, sex can be complicated in the time of COVID-19, especially for those without an intimate partner in their household or whose sexual partner is at high risk for COVID-19,” Tam said, according to USA Today.

She issued a statement Wednesday that said with sex, like other activities during COVID-19 that involve physical closeness, there are steps to take to reduce your risk of infection, especially if you choose to have sex with someone outside of your household or close contacts bubble. Here are her recommendations:

• The most important step is establishing a trusting relationship with your sexual partner.
• Monitor yourself for symptoms and don’t have sex if you or your partner are experiencing symptoms.
• Limit alcohol and use of other substances that may blur your ability to make safe decisions.
• Skip kissing and other face-to-face contact and consider wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
• Be aware if you or your partner has underlying conditions or a compromised immune system that can increase the risk of severe complications from COVID-19.
• Take the usual precautions for safe sex including the use of condoms and knowing the status of sexually transmitted diseases for both you and your partner.

Tam said that there is very little evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted though semen or vaginal fluids, but sexual interaction with new partners can increase your risk of infection. University of Utah scientists studied the semen of patients infected with COVID-19 and found no traces of the disease, according to The Salt Lake City Tribune. But they warned that while their findings are reassuring, the virus can be spread through other intimate contact, so ideally, it is best to remain socially distant.

“Remember, as with all social interactions, try to keep your number of close contacts low if possible,” Tam said in her statement.