Health & Fitness
Graphic NYC Health Memo Offers Coronavirus Sex Tips
"You are your safest sex partner," the since-deleted Health Department memo told socially-distanced New Yorkers.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK — Have sex with the people closest to you — and there's no one closer to you than yourself. So said a now-deleted New York City health department memo graphically detailing safe sex tips during the new coronavirus pandemic.
The memo titled "Sex and Coronavirus Disease 2019" quickly drew chuckles when it went up on the city's website on Saturday.
Some nameless city prude yanked it, leaving behind a dead link, but Twitterfolk concerned about pandemic sexual safety saved it in screenshots and a cached version.
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Joking aside, many people found the health department's frank guidance refreshing. Maggie Penman, a Washington Post reporter, tweeted it was "actually a great read and surprisingly detailed," albeit she questioned one bit of advice.
the advice to only have sex with people you live with could lead to some real messy roommate situations though
— maggie penman (@maggiepenman) March 21, 2020
To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in NYC, sign up for Patch's news alerts and newsletter.
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Sure enough, the memo advises New Yorkers to have sex with the people close to them. Its next bit of advice sent Twitter atwitter.
"You are your safest sex partner," it states, noting the 20 seconds of hand washing to prevent the spread of coronavirus still applies before and after.
Public health officials are concerned that even not-necessarily-intimate contact with other people can spread the coronavirus to a point it'll overburden health care systems across the country.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday announced New York City alone had more than 6,000 confirmed cases and he was looking to convert Manhattan's Javits Center into an enormous temporary hospital. A "stay-at-home" order he issued takes effect Sunday and effectively restricts social contact.
The health department memo offered guidance on how to prevent sexual activity from further spreading the virus. It advised to have as few sexual partners as possible, among other graphic steps.
Some people criticized the city for taking the memo down after BuzzFeed News and the New York Post reported about it.
So it took about three hours after buzzfeed and the post reported on it for NYC Health Dept to take down the sex and covid-19 advisory. That's *not* good, as far as I can tell?
— Poisonville (@poisonville) March 21, 2020
Coronavirus In NYC: What's Happened And What You Need To Know
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
