Who would have thought that a simple gesture like hugging could be something people will worry about in 2020?
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, hugging is not going to be a regular habit that people can offer to a friend or loved one after a long day. It is now something that a person should think about before giving.
During the past months, some have become creative to give their loved ones some hugs. Some wore costumes, while others created hug blankets.
According to a professor from Stanford, Johannes Eichstaedt, humans detect affectionate touch that serves as a way to communicate that a person is safe, loved, and not alone.
But how will we continue communicating through the affectionate touch if hugging is no longer the same as before?
Experts say that it is still okay to hug another person. There may even be risks. However, safety protocols may be followed to avoid catching the coronavirus.
In an article from the New York Times, there are some ways that people could still hug each other safely.
Here are some of the tips provided by experts:
1. Do not hug facing each other.
When hugging another person, the position of the faces has a lot of risks. Face-to-face hugs cause higher chances of getting the coronavirus to the person embracing, especially if the other person is taller. The shorter person can catch the exhaled breath of the taller one.
It would be best that the persons hugging each other will be facing opposite directions. That way, the inhaled and exhaled breaths have no chances of mingling.
2. When hugging another person (or maybe all the time), wear a mask.
This reminder may sound like a broken record player. However, it is also something that some people might take for granted. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention prescribes everyone to wear a mask. This safety precaution can go a long way if everyone will follow because, according to CDC, this can prevent the coronavirus from spreading further.
3. Do not hug rubbing each other's cheek, and while facing the same direction.
Again, this has something to do with the people's breathing zone. If the two people are facing the same direction, they are at higher risks of contracting the coronavirus (in case one of them has it), because they share the same breathing zone.
4. While hugging, do not talk or cough.
Because a person's saliva or any respiratory droplets can transmit the disease, it would be safer if huggers are not talking while hugging each other. Speaking and coughing should be done when you are already at a safe distance.
5. Choose a brief hug from the long and tight ones.
Experts say that a brief hug is not as harmful as we think it could be. There is a very low risk of exposure to the coronavirus when a hug is brief. For now, a short hug should suffice.
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