Have a quick ATK before heading between the sheets

The Department of Health has come up with some new advice for those planning to have sex on Valentine's Day -- get tested for Covid-19 using a rapid antigen test kit (ATK) before making love.

Last year, the department recommended wearing face masks and avoiding facing your partner while having sex because there weren't enough vaccines and ATKs back then, Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoen, director-general of the department, said.

Since the Covid-19 situation has changed and lovers appear to be safer when it comes to having sex, ATK testing should be enough for fully vaccinated people, he said.

As for other traditional Valentine's Day activities such as going out for a romantic dinner, Dr Suwanchai said checking a Covid-19 tracking app to see if the restaurant they made reservations at is Covid-19 safe would be a good idea.

These apps, including "Thai Save Thai" developed by the department, will help assess the risk of being exposed to Covid-19, he said.

This app works by assessing how safe activities allowed on the premises are and how crowded the place gets, he said.

More importantly, after a night out on Valentine's Day, people are advised to keep wearing a mask and maintain social distancing while at home to cut the risk of spreading Covid-19 to other family members, especially the elderly and those with chronic diseases, the doctor added.