Should you have sex during the coronavirus pandemic? NYC health department offers advice

These are trying times, and urges are only human.

In the midst of the health crisis posed by the coronavirus, officials all over the world over are urging social distancing — but does that apply to sex?

New York City’s public health department issued a factsheet addressing this question — which has now been removed from the department’s website — urging caution and temperance during the pandemic.

“You are your safest sex partner. Masturbation will not spread COVID-19,” the city said.

The health department highlighted the fact that the spread of the coronavirus is largely reliant upon physical contact, and merely standing within 6 feet of an infected person could transmit the virus.

However, the city noted that the virus has not appeared in semen or vaginal fluid, meaning that it cannot be transmitted via sexual contact alone, although for obvious reasons, sex inevitably results in broader physical contact that could spread the disease.

To reduce the possibility of coming into contact with an infected person, the city advised that the next best alternative to masturbation is to have sex with a housing partner.

“You should avoid close contact — including sex — with anyone outside your household,” the health department said. “If you do have sex with others, have as few partners as possible and avoid group sex.”

And if you do end up having sex, try not to kiss, according to the city.

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 2:03 PM.