You can get COVID-19 from a person who has it, especially by being physically close to that person.

• The virus spreads through particles in the saliva, mucus, or breath of people with COVID-19, even from people who don’t have symptoms.
• Avoiding kissing, and avoiding being close to each other without masks, are two of the most effective ways to prevent transmission.

We still have a lot to learn about COVID-19 and sex.

• The virus has been found in the semen and feces of people with COVID-19, but it isn’t known if COVID-19 can be spread through vaginal or anal sex.
• Other coronaviruses do not easily spread through sex. This means sex is not likely a common way that COVID-19 spreads. However, close contact during sex makes exposure through other means, including kissing, very likely.

• You are your safest sex partner. Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and sex toys) with soap and water before and after sex.
• The next safest partner is someone you live with. Having close contact—including sex—with only a small circle of people helps prevent spreading COVID-19.
• You should avoid close contact—including sex—with anyone outside your household. If you do have sex with others outside of your household, have as few partners as possible and pick partners you trust. Talk about COVID-19 risk factors, just as you would discuss PrEP, condoms, and other safer sex topics.
• Ask sex partners about COVID-19 before you hook up.
  • Do they have symptoms or have they had symptoms in the last 14 days? Most people with COVID-19 have symptoms, but even people who have no symptoms are also infectious. Fever, cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath are symptoms to ask about. But again, asking about symptoms is not a perfect way to know whether someone has COVID-19.
  • Have they been diagnosed with COVID-19 using a nasal swab or saliva test? People who have recovered from COVID-19 at least 10 days from the day their symptoms started and who have not had fever for at least three days are likely no longer infectious.
• 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, subscription-based fan platforms, sexy “Zoom parties,” or chat rooms may be options for you.
• If you decide to have sex outside of your circle of contacts:
  • Closely monitor yourself for symptoms.
  • Consider getting a swab or saliva test for COVID-19 on a more frequent basis (monthly or within five to seven days of a hookup). Call your health department or medical provider for information on where you can get tested.
  • Take precautions interacting with people at risk for severe COVID-19 illness such as people over 65 years of age or those with serious medical conditions. Medical conditions include lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, liver disease, cancer or a weakened immune system (for example, having unsuppressed HIV or a low CD4 count).
  • Be vigilant with face coverings and healthy hand hygiene to minimize risk to others.

• Kissing can easily pass COVID-19. Avoid kissing anyone who is not part of your household or circle of close contacts.
• Rimming might spread COVID-19. Virus in feces may enter your mouth and could lead to infection.
• Wear a face covering or mask. Maybe it’s your thing, maybe it’s not, but during COVID-19 wearing a face covering that covers your nose and mouth is a good way to add a layer of protection during sex. Heavy breathing and panting can spread the virus further, and if you or your partner have COVID-19 and don’t know it, a mask can help stop that spread.
• Make it a little kinky. Be creative with sexual positions and physical barriers, like glory holes, that allow sexual contact while preventing close face to face contact.
• Masturbate together. Maintain distance and wear a mask to reduce risk.
• Condoms and dental dams can reduce contact with saliva, semen or feces during oral or anal sex. Click here to find out how to get free safer sex products.
• Washing up before and after sex is more important than ever.
  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Wash sex toys with soap and warm water.
  • Disinfect keyboards and touch screens that you share with others.

Having antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19 or a prior positive diagnostic test does not mean definite immunity. Use test results with caution in helping you make decisions about sex, since they’re not perfect.

• A positive antibody test for the virus that causes COVID-19 may indicate prior exposure, but it does not mean you are immune from reinfection.
• A prior positive diagnostic test (nose swab or saliva) means you have had COVID-19 and may be less likely to be re-infected, but it isn’t known how strong that protection is or for how long it lasts.
• Be cautious in using these tests to make decisions about who you have sex with and what kind of sex you have since antibody test results are not definite proof of immunity.

• If you start to feel unwell avoid kissing, sex, or any close contact with others. You can find a list of symptoms on the CDC’s website.
• If you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, avoid close contact with anyone outside your household and follow guidance about how to prevent exposing others. People exposed to COVID-19 should get tested for the virus using a swab or saliva test.
• If you or your partner have a medical condition that can lead to severe COVID-19 illness, you may also want to skip sex.

If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, go into quarantine. That will help prevent spread of disease that can occur before you know whether or not you’ve been infected. Stay home, monitor your health, and follow directions from your state or local health department. [Read more from CDC.gov]. Talk with your partners and other close contacts about your plan to start or stop quarantining.

Best option: Continue PrEP as normal

• Many people may be wondering whether they should continue to take PrEP if they’re social distancing and not having sex right now. The PrEP team at San Francisco AIDS Foundation recommends keeping up with your PrEP routine, even if you’re not hooking up with anyone right now.
• Taking daily PrEP is effective and safe, and continuing your regimen as normal will make it easier to jump back into your sex life after the pandemic ends.

Another option: Stopping PrEP

• If you do choose to discontinue PrEP, there are ways to do it safely. First, contact your PrEP healthcare provider and let them know you’d like to stop taking PrEP. Follow their guidance on how to stop PrEP—they will advise you on how many days to continue taking PrEP after your last sexual encounter.

Another option: Switching to PrEP 2-1-1

• Switching to PrEP 2-1-1 isn’t recommended if you’re already taking daily PrEP and have not received counseling on this dosing strategy. If you are interested in switching, discuss this option with your PrEP provider.
• PrEP 2-1-1 is only effective for people having anal sex. It is not effective for people having receptive vaginal or front hole sex. At this time, there is not enough evidence to support 2-1-1 dosing with Descovy. You can learn more about PrEP 2-1-1 here.

This information was originally published on SFAF.org

• When you can, get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is important for people who’ve never had COVID-19 as well as those who have already been infected and recovered.
• Vaccines don’t provide instant protection. It can take several weeks to provide immunity. That means you could still get infected right after getting vaccinated. While we know that COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at protecting us from getting sick, it’s not yet known how well the vaccine works at preventing spread to others. It is very common to transmit coronavirus to others without being sick.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, click here and here.

While it may go without saying, in addition to taking steps to protect yourself from COVID during sex, you should also continue the usual precautions you take to protect your sexual health in general.

• HIV: Condoms, taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and having an undetectable viral load all help prevent HIV. For more information, click here.
• Other STIs: Using condoms helps prevent other STIs. For more information on STIs, click here.
• Pregnancy: Reproductive health services—as well as fertility services, prenatal care and cancer screenings—may be covered by your insurance company. Providers may be able to help you without an in-person visit. Planned Parenthood also provides many services: For more information, click here.