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 walls, that allow sexual contact while preventing close face to face contact. • Masturbate together. Use physical distance and face coverings to reduce the risk. • Condoms and dental dams can reduce contact with saliva, semen or feces during oral or anal sex. Visit nyc.gov/condoms to find out how to get free safer sex products. • Washing up before and after sex is more important than ever. o Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. o Wash sex toys with soap and warm water. o Disinfect keyboards and touch screens that you share with others. 5. Skip sex if you or your partner are not feeling well. • If you feel unwell, or even start to feel unwell, avoid kissing, sex or any close contact with others. For more information, visit nyc.gov/health and search COVID symptoms. • If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, avoid close contact with anyone outside your household and follow NYC 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. o 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). 6. Prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. • HIV: Using condoms, taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and having an undetectable viral load all help prevent HIV. For more information, visit nyc.gov/health and search HIV. • Other STIs: Using condoms help prevent other STIs. Visit nyc.gov/health and search STI. • NYC Sexual Health Clinics: Call the NYC Sexual Health Clinic Hotline at 347-396-7959 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) to speak to a health care provider about STIs. Clinics in Chelsea and Fort Greene can provide walk-in patients with emergency contraception, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV, and initiation of HIV treatment. Visit nyc.gov/health/clinics for updated information on hours and services or call 311. • Pregnancy: Reproductive health services — as well as fertility services, prenatal care and cancer screenings – are considered essential services and are available in all five boroughs. Providers may be able to help you without an in-person visit. o To find a provider, visit the Sexual and Reproductive Health Provider Directory or call 311. For the latest information, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus or cdc.gov/covid19. For real-time updates, text “COVID” to 692-692. Messages and data rates may apply. The NYC Health Department may change recommendations as the situation evolves. 6.8.20 3