Experts at the New York City Department of Health have offered suggestions about healthy sexual behaviour as the COVID-19 global pandemic leads to lockdown in many countries.

In Nigeria, the Federal and state governments have ordered certain categories of civil servants to stay at home, while markets and other public places that attract huge crowds are being shut down in a bid to arrest community transmission of the coronavirus.

Nigeria currently has 51 confirmed cases of the contagion, with two successfully treated and discharged, while one person died from the disease. As more people stay at home, the NYC health department advised people to be careful with sexual relationships while the lockdowns last. The department said, to enjoy sex and avoid spreading COVID-19 at the same time, people should know how COVID-19 spreads.

The department conceded that experts still have a lot to learn about COVID-19 and sex, noting, however, that the virus has been found in faeces of people who are infected with coronavirus.

“You can get COVID-19 from a person who has it; the virus can spread to people who are within about six feet of a person with COVID-19 when that person coughs or sneezes; and the virus can spread through direct contact with their saliva or mucus,” it says.

In order to be safe, the New York City Department of Health encourages people to have sex with people close to them. “You are your safest sex partner. Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and any intimacy gadgets) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sex,” it said.

It, however, said COVID-19 has not yet been found in semen or vaginal fluid, adding, “We know that other coronaviruses do not efficiently transmit through sex.”

The department warned that “if you do have sex with others, have as few partners as possible.”

For those who patronise sex on social media spaces, the department said, “If you usually meet your sex partners online or make a living by having sex, consider taking a break from in-person dates. Video dates, sexting or chat rooms may be options for you.”

For those who engage in MouthAction or Mouth Gig or rimming (mouth on anus), the department warned that they might spread COVID-19 because “virus in faeces may enter your mouth.” It suggested that condoms and dental dams could reduce contact with saliva or faeces, especially during oral or anal sex.

Those who use intimacy gadgets are encouraged to wash them with soap and warm water; while those who engage in video chat for pornography are counselled to disinfect keyboards and touch screens that they share with others.

==> Above all, the department advised people to “skip sex if you or your partner is not feeling well.”

“Again, if you or your partner has a medical condition that can lead to more severe COVID-19, you may also want to skip sex,” it said.

Such medical conditions include lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system (for example, having unsuppressed HIV and a low CD4 count).