But I'm still apprehensive. I haven't touched a human being for almost three months. Don't get me wrong, Lizzie's great. But it's not quite the same.
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| Photo by Judy Winter |
So I was pleased to see an article in the New York Times about how to hug safely in the world of Covid-19. They do recommend hugging with masks, unless the person you hug has been in your quarantine bubble. And they have wonderful illustrations on what is safe and what is not. This is not.
This is not OK, either. Know why? When huggers are looking in the same direction, it's higher risk because each person’s exhaled breath is in the other person’s breathing zone.
So this would be really bad!
And this is certainly OK. With a stuffed toy or your pet. But you don't get that person-to-person feeling. (It would be a bad hug for a human!)
This hug is relatively safe (again, wear the mask!)
Here's a good approach (but you need the mask!)
And a very good example -- heads apart, over the shoulder. This is a safe, full-body hug because faces are in opposite directions and that prevents you from directly breathing each other’s exhaled particles. This photo was taken before the days of the mask. Wear a mask.
With grandchildren or littles, hugging at knee or waist level lowers risk is considered safe because direct exposure to droplets and aerosols is less because faces are far apart. But, if they aren't wearing a mask -- and lots of kids don't -- change clothes and wash your hands after hugging this way. Also, don't breathe down on the child -- look off to the side. (And did I mention, masks?!)
Want a kiss? Kiss a child or seated person on the top of the head, where the one doing the kissing is minimally exposed to the child’s exhaled breath. However, because the child could be exposed to the taller person’s breath, it's safest so kiss through a mask.
And you need to keep it short. This kiss is probably not a good idea, too close to the face.
Of course, if you are living in the came Corona-bubble, relax and hug all you want.
All I know is this is what I want.
And soon! (And actually, this one is pretty safe!) Happy Hugging!
49 comments:
Yes, a little hug now and then would be a good things. In the meantime I'm trying to manage with coffee and virtual hugs, which are perhaps better than nothing! Sta safe and well, hugs (safe ones) Valerie
Hope you get some hugs that you want and really soon.
You explained this really well!
I will be very glad when things get back to normal.
Wishing you a very nice week.
Hugs.
Our county is opening up as of Friday! They still want us wearing masks in public spaces, but those spaces will be OPEN! There are only four unresolved cases in my county and they are 100 km. from us, I think that's about 60 miles. Our rural county butts up against Carlton Co. which has a city of a million residents and no doubt the place where those four cases came to be. Our health unit is pretty good about keeping the infected folks under lock and key until they get better.
I want to cuddle my great grandson something fierce.
Exactly, needed to learn how to do "new" hugs :)
It’s still so instinctive to hug hello or goodbye. Another thing to look forward too :-)
I saw my grandkids today and I wanted to hug them so bad, but did not. Janice
Wow, what a wonderful photo essay!! It must have been fun searching and choosing the photos. After 2 months of near quarantine, my guy and I came close again. It was a slow deliberate decision and felt kind of awkward at first. But it's way too early for me to break my distance with anyone else. I do find it easier to just not be around people too muich because the chances of coming within 6 feet are increased. On a French radio station I listened in to a conversation about the future of the French bise, the kisses of greeting on each cheek. Not sure it was ever a sanitary sort of thing to do, but it is such a sweet tradition, just as hugging in greeting is for us Americans. Love the Scrabble image too. Hug, Hug, Rita.
The world has changed when such a natural and simple pleasure gets so complicated. But thanks for sharing. I think we all have to change it up because safe is better than sorry. Hugs-Erika
I read the NYT article - and hugged and kissed Daphne from behind on the top of her head -she is my first hug during Covid.
Sweet post, Jeanie! My grandkids give me "air hugs" pretend hugs by hugging themselves--sort of like "blowing a kiss"
We continue to evaluate all risks and risk levels as we feel vulnerable to this virus. So far so good although I feel sad to be missing so much of "normal" these approaching summer days!
I'm one of those who does not like unnecessary physical contact and hugs certainly come in that category. I am delighted by the thought that people may consider touching more carefully.
So many wonderful pictures of hugging! Happiness hugs! This thread should be the information poster for how to hug! Even though I am quite introverted, around the right people I am a serious social hugger of the huge, all engulfing bear hug type. The only people I have seen since mid March are my three neighbours from a distance over our garden walls! Even as lockdown relaxes, I will not be starting to hug as I am high risk with asthma. Funny how I have lived all my life with it, managing it well, and now this curved ball comes.
~~~Waving~~~Deb in Wales
That is really a good article with the safety-instructions.
Certainly I like your pictures much better (and imagine masks).
I am glad I can hug hubby. And kiss him. But certainly we wash hands a lot.
To normal hugging for all soon! A vitual one is on the way to you.
Hello, Jeanie
The photos of everyone hugging are wonderful. We are still keeping our distance and wearing a mask in crowded public areas and stores. Hugs for your, enjoy your day!
Oh how I have missed hugs! I am a hugger by nature, so I have had to totally rethink my natural tendencies. Thanks for the tips Jeanie!
Whoever could have believed a few short months ago that we would have needed guidelines for hugging? The world has changed indeed! I am not quite sure how young people with supercharged hormones are handling all of this.
Sweet pics Jeanie, Southerners are huggers, so I am happy to know there is a safe way to do it!!
Jenna
What a great way to get your point across and endorse that article. Great archived photos, too.
This is the happiest, huggiest post. Love it.
Sending you a safe (but hearty) virtual hug, Jeannie.
What a fun post and very helpful info in the time of COVID! Really, who knew, except to not hug. I miss hugs, I'm a hugger. I have hubs hugs but missing hugs from my family and friends. Such darling photos Jeanie.....
Lovely photos Jeanie.
Being Portuguese we are used to double kisses (like the French do) to family and friends, so I too miss hugs and kisses.
A virtual hug to you :)
Jeanie! This brought me tears of joy! I am so happy that you guys can hug each other no matter how different the way is, it still is the same special physical bond that will make anybody's hearts feel joy and comforted! Love all these photos, each of them made me feel loved!
I can't tell you how much I want to hug someone - it's such a strong urge. I saw an old friend that I hadn't seen in a year. I put my hand horizontal in the air toward her and mimicked a circular back rub. We ususally hug when we see each other. Sigh!
Great post, Jeanie. Thanks for all the good information. Love the photos - especially the one of you and Rick in front of the tree. Happy day to you!
What a great post. Who'd a thought about some hugs being more acceptable than others. Here's a cyber hug coming your way:)
This is such good information! Oh how happy I will be when the day comes when we don't have to wear masks and we can just hug to our heart's content! It's an ugly world out there lately and maybe more hugging would be a good thing:) Great pictures in this post!!!!
Aw jeepers! I just wrote a nice comment and all of a sudden it took off into cyberspace!!!!! But here goes again:) Your post gives such good information! How happy I will be when we no longer have to wear masks and we can hug to our heart's content! The world could sure use more hugs these days:) Stay safe and hope you get lots of good hugs very soon.
Happy Hugs to you, Jeanie. Love all the photos and the info is need to know. The only ones we see are our daughter and SIL when they bring groceries and we are still hugging through the glass. I have been going to physical therapy for my back, doc orders. Health is important and must be tended to, but that is the extent for me so far. I hope I can get over this some time..Stay well..xxoJudy
All of your hugs are beautiful, Jeanie! The need for human contact is so real. With the relaxing of rules I'm afraid of a second wave. We still have not visited with family members as I don't think I could hug properly!
Strong topic and pictures!
Hugs (all types: polite, intimate..) make us feel good, happy, comfortable. We miss them.
Oh to be able to hug anyone I wanted to! I am only hugging Phil and Paul. Paul is very generous with his hugs and will come to me and ask for a hug. So that is filling my cup! We don’t let Joan touch him or get too close to him when we visit her but Paul generally wouldn’t let her hug him in normal circumstances as he is kind of picky about who he will sit with or hug. I do think he would hug my parents so I guess it’s probably good we haven’t seen them although I know they miss him dearly. We are thinking of going to the lake in August but will stay at my brother’s place down the road to minimize our contact. We will see if that works out or if I am getting more confident about us not being exposed to COVID by then...
I always wear a mask when I'm around people who aren't family. I can't wait to be able to hug again, but I haven't started doing it yet.
I really loved to see all your happy pre-Covid19 photos. Some really good hugging going on there and some good advice. That sweet kitty! I notice things in movies so much now! I am thinking about how in your face everyone used to be. I have always liked a little bubble of personal space.
Sad reality. We are lucky that we no longer have any active cases and we are back to normal.
I had a look. It is interesting and seems safe if all the procedures are followed. Really, it's just a point of being sensible.
I think it is a shame measures like these are not talked about more and offered as solutions. Here in the UK there were people watching their families from over the 2m rule or chatting through the window. I imagine this is very hard for many.
Wonderful post . . .
Thought I had commented . .
I didn’t realize how much I needed a hug . . .
Until I received and returned . . . the other day.
These help but “the real deal” . . . oh my!
{{{❤️}}}
It is always the little things we miss. And then it turns out that they are not little at all.
Amalia
xo
Great pic of you and Lizzie. Looks like she's saying, "Just get this picture over with.":)
So sad we have to be so safe these days, that a hug could be so hurtful. But so necessary too! Thanks for sharing this, I am going to use my newfound knowledge to tentatively, safely, hug my mom Friday. She has been isolated with no human touch either since this all started. The not crying will be hard!
Thanks for sharing us a lot of hugs full of love.
Nice weekend to you and your family.
Awwww Jeanie I love your hug post......it's so cute, and so TRUE. Love all the happy pictures. Yes, I miss people and hugging people. Glad you liked my post, that is sure a beautiful place to go hike. Thanks for the sweet compliments....I got my red skirt at a thrift store of course! LOL
This is sad. Our family's big huggers. I have a friend whose son passed away tragically last weekend, and I am debating attending the visitation and funeral today and tomorrow. They are doing the visitation at a family farm, but I am still so apprehensive. I haven't even gotten together with much of my family, just one brother and sister.
I'm so looking forward to hugging our children and grandchildren … but still don't know when that will be.
In the meantime thank goodness for our family internet calls, and many virtual hugs.
All the best Jan
Lovely post Jeanie, and very interesting.
Cute post Jeanie! What strange times we are in! It is better to be safe than sorry these days.
This post actually saddened me Jeanie to see what we are missing now through lack of human contact. I know it was meant to be informative, but still dampened my spirits.
I hope you can get some hugs in soon.
To be honest, though I love cuddle time with the petkids, and hugs from Kelly are nice too, I have to admit to being a bit relieved by the lack of hugs from others right now. Social distancing making things difficult as regards me being lead if I need to go somewhere without Kelly is a bit of a pain, but not having certain people who insist on hugging me in greeting or parting want to do it all the time, or people insisting talking to a blind person means you have to physically touch them (it doesn't of course) is a relief. I have to put up with people invading my personal space so often - doctors especially - that I always feel uncomfortable when people want to hug me, and even with family generally only accept it so as not to hurt anyone's feelings by pushing them away.
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