Meeting Up Safely in the COVID Era: Preventing STIs When You Use Dating Apps
By now we all know that everyone in Thailand should stay home. A nationwide curfew was declared and New Year gatherings were canceled to slow the spread…
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By now we all know that everyone in Thailand should stay home. On top of that, a nationwide curfew was declared across the kingdom, New Year and Songkran celebrations were canceled, the sale of all alcoholic drinks was suspended, and social gatherings of every kind were called off, all to curb the spread of COVID-19. This wave of cancellations does not spare meeting up for sex, either.
Sex is part of life. It is a natural part of being human, because everyone wants to feel good or to relieve stress. For now, though, we simply need to find other ways to meet those needs for the time being.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can COVID-19 be transmitted through sex?
- At this point there is no clear evidence that the virus can be passed on through sex itself. It is, however, certainly transmitted through close contact with others. The virus can also be spread through saliva when kissing, and it has been found in feces as well.
If you have sex, are you at risk of the virus?
- Even if you wash your hands constantly or never kiss anyone during sex, you can still be at risk of the virus. That is because a person may carry the virus in their body without showing any symptoms at all. Some people infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms yet can still pass the virus on to others, and that person could be you or your partner.
- If you really do want to have sex, it is better to have it with someone in your own household, since that helps reduce the risk of the virus, or at least keeps any risk within a small circle. The key point is that you should not have sex with strangers.
Ultimately, if you can cut down on contact with other people, or stop having sex altogether, you can greatly reduce the rate at which COVID-19 spreads.
Are there other ways to have sex?
For now, what you can do is rely on yourself, whether by masturbating or using sex toys. If you use toys, though, you should clean them with soap for at least 20 seconds and wash your own hands both before and after using them.
You can also put technology to good use by video-calling so you can see each other's faces, or simply talking with someone over the phone.
Should you use dating apps right now?
If you genuinely need to use them, it is better to use them just for general communication. But if you are going to meet up for sex, you should avoid kissing, wash your hands, and use condoms throughout to reduce the risk during oral sex. As mentioned earlier, though, if you are within two meters of another person you are already at risk of infection, because the virus can spread from contaminated objects such as shared items and containers. So the best thing of all is simply to hold off on sex entirely.
Should you keep taking PrEP?
Because we do not recommend having sex or meeting up with others during this time, some people may decide to pause their PrEP for now, unless there is a genuine need, such as living with a partner who is living with HIV, in which case you should keep taking PrEP.
For men who have sex with men, it is possible to stop taking the medication, but you should follow your doctor's advice. And if you do need to take PrEP, you can choose the on-demand method using the 2-1-1 dosing schedule. Do not forget to consult your doctor.
And remember: COVID-19 is easily destroyed by water and soap, because its outer shell is made of fat. If you are at home or in the office, washing your hands with soap and water is the best approach. If you are out and cannot use soap and water, alcohol-based hand gel is recommended.
With thanks to tht.org.uk/news/dont-hook-during-covid-19-lockdown for the information.
Verified references
Links and relevance to the article’s main topic were reviewed on 13 August 2026. Each source supports only the scope stated in the original document and does not replace personalised medical, legal, or service advice.
- CDC: About Sexually Transmitted Infections Accessed 13 August 2026
- CDC: STI Treatment Guidelines Accessed 13 August 2026
