Intimate physical contact between people from different households during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID).
Pam SonnenbergDee MenezesLily FreemanKaren J MaxwellDavid S ReidSoazig CliftonClare TantonAndrew J CopasJulie RiddellEmily DemaRaquel Boso PerezJo GibbsMary-Clare RidgeWendy G MacdowallMagnus UnemoChristopher BonellAnne M JohnsonCatherine H MercerKirstin Rebecca MitchellNigel FieldPublished in: BMJ open (2022)
Given 90% of people did not report IPCOH, this contact may not be a large additional contributor to SARS-CoV-2 transmission, although heterogeneity exists within the population. Public health messages need to recognise how single people and partners living apart balance sexual intimacy and relationship needs with adherence to control measures.