Carol Yepes
If you're fully vaccinated, Oregon Health Authority just gave you the okay to get intimate on dates again.
"If you're both vaccinated and taking COVID-19 precautions, intimacy is likely to be safe," OHA said on its Facebook page.
The new guidelines highlight how "confusing" dating during a global pandemic can be. But since widespread vaccination efforts have taken off this year, OHA is saying new ways to get cozy with a new partner should be safe.
Once both parties are vaccinated, OHA recommends choosing an outdoor location for a date night if Zoom meetings aren't cutting it. If one party is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, the date should be postponed for 10 days. If your date is going to be in a crowded or indoor area, OHA recommends masks and social distancing.
If both parties are fully vaccinated and taking precautions against the coronavirus, OHA is giving the green light for intimacy.
It's a notable change from OHA's recommendations earlier in the pandemic, when the health experts suggested masturbation would be the safest option rather than dating as COVID-19 spread across the state - saying "you are your safest sex partner."