'No Kissing, No Heavy Breathing': Red Light Districts Reopen In Thailand, Netherlands With Strict Guidelines

As different countries are starting to lift lockdowns, services that were not considered essential are slowly coming back to life albeit with strict guidelines in place.

In Netherlands, sex workers can resume work and sex districts have reopened in Thailand as well. However, the workers have to adhere to certain guidelines, some of which are stricter than ¡®normal¡¯ social distancing rules.

Reuters

Bangkok¡¯s red-light districts opened on July 1 after three months of lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Reuters reports that bars, karaoke venues and massage parlours were in the latest category of businesses allowed to reopen with conditions - now that Thailand has gone 37 days since recording any local transmission of the virus. Thousands of sex workers who had been rendered jobless and were struggling to survive can now return to work.

"I'm glad that I can come back to work in a job that I'm good at. I'm OK with the mask because it's one of the precautions,¡± Reuters quoted a 27-year-old dancer Bee as saying.

Reuters

All customers attending bars have their temperature taken, they have to give their name and phone number. Everybody has to sit at least one metre (yard) apart and two metres from the stage.

Dutch sex workers too went back to work on July 1 as Netherlands eased measures. However, the workers have been advised to avoid heavy breathing and kissing to help reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19, Reuters reports.

Also Read: Attacks On Sex Workers In Africa Rise Amid Lockdown Poverty, People Think They Spread Covid-19

Reuters

Sex workers are already adhering to strict health regulations, however, the industry has reportedly compiled a list of recommendations, including sexual positions to avoid.

Debbie Mensink, a public health advisor in Amsterdam said that even with new guidelines sex workers will be more exposed to dangers of COVID-19 than most other professions. "There is a heightened risk. Sex workers already have a heightened health risk due to their line of work... because people get so close to each other,¡± she reportedly said.

Reuters

She further said, "We advise against literally getting in each others' faces, where you can breathe in each others' warm breath. We also advise against kissing because saliva carries the virus and you could transfer it that way.¡±

Moira Mona, a worker however said that she is not worried as she¡¯ll be taking precautions. ¡®She added a few new items to her collection of latex outfits, stiletto heels and tasseled whips to adhere to the protocol: a leather face cover with metal studs, black gloves and surgical face masks¡¯, Reuters reports.

Until a vaccine for the virus is created, masks and distance will remain the new normal.