KEY POINTS

  • Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, asks Canadians to wear face masks when having sex
  • She also asks they give-up kissing altogether to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus
  • She said the safest form of sex is going it alone

Wear a face mask during sex. Really?

Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer of Canada, has made the unbelievable suggestions people should make love while wearing face masks and avoid kissing altogether. This warning is especially true when having sex with new partners, such as a one-night stand, but added the safest form of sex in this age of COVID-19 is to "go solo."

Tam's contentious statements made Wednesday include no kissing, avoiding face-to-face closeness, wearing a face mask covering the mouth and nose, and monitoring yourself and your partner for symptoms ahead of sex of any kind.

"Like other activities during COVID-19 that involve physical closeness, there are some things you can do to minimize the risk of getting infected and spreading the virus," she said.

Tam admitted there's little chance of catching COVID-19 from semen or vaginal fluid. On the other hand, sexual activity with new partners increases the risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19, especially if there's close contact like kissing.

Tam, 55, admits sexual health is an important part of one's overall health. The precautions she recommends, however outlandish they might seem, are intended to help. "Canadians can find ways to enjoy physical intimacy while safeguarding the progress we have all made containing COVID-19," she said.

If a person wants the intense thrill of sex but without the risk of being infected by another person, Tam recommends masterbation.

"The lowest-risk sexual activity during COVID-19 involves yourself alone," she said.

Last May, Tam said "where COVID-19 activity is occurring, use of non-medical masks or face coverings is recommended as an added layer of protection when physical distancing is difficult to maintain."

Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam
Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, attends a news conference as efforts continue to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo