Hug in times of Corona

Of the many things we miss from our pre-pandemic lives, hugging may top the list. Not only do we miss hugs, we need them.
Affectionate touch is how our biological systems communicate to one another that we are safe, that we are loved, and that we are not alone.

I stumbled upon an article in the New York Times in which scientists, who study airborne viruses, teach the safest way to hug.

They say that it is obvious that the safest way is to avoid hugs. But if you need a hug, take precautions: 

Wear a mask. Hug outdoors. Try to avoid touching the other person’s body or clothes with your face and your mask. Don’t hug someone who is coughing or has other symptoms. Do it quickly and wash your hands afterwards.

And try not to cry. Tears and runny noses increase risk for coming into contact with more fluids that contain the virus.

Dr. Marr noted that the risk of a quick hug with precautions is very low but not zero. So..

Tip for today:
Hug your closed ones, but choose your hugs wisely and let the hug spark joy!

Not all hugs are the same as you can see in the infographic below.

If you want more of the science behind these recommendations, you can go here to the article itself.