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With more than 70 countries infected with Covid-19, this extremely delicate and contagious illness continues to spread. Because of its relatively new nature, many people are ill-equipped to prevent it. But, experts suggest, knowing exactly what the coronavirus is capable of can help people avoid it altogether.
That’s exactly why we’ve decided to give you the proper guidance. If you’ve recently started dating again and you are worried you might get infected, it’s important to know how this illness gets transmitted in the first place.
Here, we will focus on everything you need to know on Covid-19 transmission and whether it can get transmitted through sexual contact.
We recommend: A useful guide about improving mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Viral Droplet Matters, Here Is Why
Before we can talk about the connection between sexual contact and coronavirus, there is one thing you should know about, and that is the viral droplet. A virus is, in fact, a very small microbe that will stick itself to a cell, take it over, multiply, and move on to a new cell to find another host. This is the lifecycle of any virus, including Covid-19.
A virus without a host can’t get transported via droplets of saliva or mucus. The droplet is the one that contains all those viral particles of the virus. When you sneeze, laugh, sing, breathe, etc., you eject these droplets either from the mouth or nose. They can end up on another person, object, or on the floor. For an individual to get infected, these droplets have to enter the body through the mouth, nose, or eyes.
Can Corona Get Transmitted Through Sex?
When you talk about sex and Covid-19, you need to consider these droplets. Since these droplets carry the infection in the saliva and mucus, when you are kissing, you actually swap the infected spit.
The droplets will then transmit to the uninfected individual, and the virus will start to invade the cells and multiply. When you see it from this perspective, then yes. You can transmit the virus while kissing during intercourse.
But, do have in mind, it’s very early to tell if the infection could be transmitted through sexual acts. There isn’t any research or analytics that could confirm that. However, generally speaking, this is NOT a typical sexually transmitted disease, according to WHO (World Health Organization).
How to Avoid This Virus?
According to Prof. Gary Whittaker, at the Cornell University of Veterinary Medicine, this infection can rather easily be destroyed.
Hygiene is very important. Make sure to wash your hands all the time and avoid close contact with an infected individual. Disinfecting surfaces can also be beneficial. Disinfectants will break down the small microbes and leave them harmless WHO suggests standing at least 3 feet from an infected individual. But, it’s difficult to avoid the virus if it’s being spread through saliva. If you believe to be infected, it’s best to get a checkup.
Since March the 2nd, statistics show almost 90,000 individuals have been infected, and 3,000 have died.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/locations-confirmed-cases.html
https://www.menshealth.com/health/a31206692/coronavirus-covid-19-sex/