While couples in the UK grapple with the idea of either living together or not seeing each other at all (bar the occasional socially-distanced stroll in the park), single people in the Netherlands are being advised to choose designated sex buddies for lockdown.

The official coronavirus guidance from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has been amended to suggest that those without a permanent sexual partner come to mutually satisfactory agreements with like-minded individuals – or, simply put, find a fuck buddy until this whole pandemic thing blows over.

Since March 23, the Netherlands has been under “intelligent lockdown”, where individuals are allowed three visitors into their homes at any given time, under strict conditions that they keep 1.5 metres distance from each other. But the RIVM now states that “it makes sense that as a single (person) you also want to have physical contact”.

“Discuss how best to do this together,” the RIVM suggests. “For example, meet with the same person to have physical or sexual contact (for example, a cuddle buddy or ‘sex buddy’), provided you are free of illness. Make good arrangements with this person about how many other people you both see. The more people you see, the greater the chance of (spreading) the coronavirus.”

“Don’t have sex with your partner if they have been isolated because of (suspected) coronavirus infection,” the RIVM continues. “Sex with yourself or with others at a distance is possible (think of telling erotic stories, masturbating together).”

As of May 16, the RIVM’s suggestion no longer includes the term “cuddle buddy” or “sex buddy”, instead advising singles to simply “minimise the risk of coronavirus during intimacy and sex”.

With everyone stuck in lockdown, it seems people are hornier than ever: sex toys, condoms, and sex dolls have spiked in sales, Pornhub has seen a surge in visitors, and searches for homemade sex toys are on the rise. People are even having virtual sex parties on services such as Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime.