Some people around the world shake hands. Some hug. Some rub their noses
together. And some—many in fact—kiss on the cheek. But now, as Covid-19 spreads
around the globe, people are rethinking how they say hello.
The WHO recommends a few protective measures to avoid spreading the
coronavirus. That includes frequent and thorough hand-washing, social
distancing (staying at least a meter from anyone who appears sick), and not
touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Some countries have gotten a bit more culturally specific. The United Arab
Emirates on Jan. 31 called on residents to suspend nose-to-nose greetings—a
traditional way for men in the Arabian Peninsula to say hello.
In Egypt, a country with a reputation for comedy in the Arab world, a
popular rhyme has emerged: “مش هنسلم، مش هنبوس، مش هننشر الفىيروس” (“We won’t
shake hands, we won’t kiss, we won’t spread the virus”). Cheek kissing is
common between men (and often between men and women) in the country and across
the rest of the Arab region.
In Iran, where the outbreak has killed the largest number of people outside
China, one popular video on social media shows men in surgical masks tapping
feet instead of kissing to avoid unnecessary contact..
In parts of Europe, it’s similarly common for people to greet each other
with a kiss on the cheek. France’s health minister recently warned against kissing,
or la bise, as the French call it. Switzerland’s health minister
has suggested droppings the
cultural practice altogether.
Both handshakes and kissing are used across Asia, including Indonesia the world’s fourth most populous country.
Indonesian authorities are recommending a namaste-style greeting. Nearby Singapore
is also circulating notices to encourage waving, elbow-tapping, and the namaste
as alternatives to handshakes and kisses.
