We’re all well aware by now of the importance of washing our hands and staying at home to stop the spread of COVID-19 – but what does this mean for our sex lives? Sex can be complicated at the best of times, but throw in a pandemic and suddenly pregnancy and STIs aren’t the only risks we have to think about.

Dealing with social distancing has meant that dating and casual sex have pretty much been put on the backburner for most people (although this hasn’t stopped some guys from getting creative when requesting nudes). We can’t pick someone up in a bar, we can’t invite them back to our homes, and if there is a minimum required distance of 1.5m between you, we certainly can’t get close enough for any sort of sexual activity.

But humans crave connection and intimacy, something which doesn’t go away after a prolonged lockdown period. The reality is people will get bored, horny and frustrated. So if the advice we’ve all been given is to stay at home and minimise our contact with others, how do you have sex?

We can’t pick someone up in a bar, we can’t invite them back to our homes, and if there is a minimum required distance of 1.5m between you, we certainly can’t get close enough for any sort of sexual activity.

Well, if you and your partner are already living together in the same household, the good news is you can continue to enjoy a fulfilling sex life. Go you.

But what happens if you are single and don’t have a regular sex partner? The last thing we want to do is spread the virus unknowingly with others – especially if we’re having sex with a new partner which, according to Canada’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Tan, increases the risk of contracting the virus.

So is it possible to still maintain a healthy sex life during a pandemic? The answer is yes. But as unsexy as it might seem, there are some general guidelines that you should follow.

No kissing

Although it is not yet known if COVID-19 can be spread through vaginal or anal sex, the virus can be transmitted through saliva, mucus or breath. Which of course, kissing involves a lot of. In this case, it’s best to skip the kissing altogether, according to Dr. Tan.

Wear a face mask

Let’s face it. Face coverings aren’t the first thing we think of when we hear “sexy time”. But if you’re going to be sweating, panting and heavy breathing, why not try and incorporate them into the bedroom to minimise the risk? Some of them can actually look kind of sexy…

Masturbate together – or even better, alone

Indeed, as the COVID-19 Safe Sex Guidelines issued by the New York City Health Department earlier this year stated, the safest sex you can have is with yourself. (And word must be getting around because sales of sex toys have skyrocketed since the pandemic hit.) Just remember to wash your hands – and your sex toys – before and after with soap and water.

Get creative

The internet was very much amused when the aforementioned NYC sex guidelines suggested things like glory holes, orgies in well-ventilated spaces, kinky Zoom parties and non-partner-facing sexual positions. But the recommendations are real and for our own good. The Queensland Government also issued their own list of ways to connect when you’re unable to see each other – albeit a little more street singalong and a little less kink.

Perhaps one positive outcome to the pandemic is that virtual intimacy has increased. We’re video dating and video chatting like never before. Dating app Bumble has seen a 21% increase in video chat calls since March, and Tinder has seen the average length of conversations increase since the pandemic began. What this means is that we’re all having to work a little bit harder to build genuine non-physical relationships and find out what makes someone tick – that isn’t underneath their clothing.

Where this will all lead we don’t know, but we should take full advantage of the time we have to explore our own sexuality and learn how to communicate better with others.

Remember – we’re all horny and in this together.