Queensland Health has recently updated its COVID Safe Industry Plan for Australia. The plan now includes guidelines for sex within premises, venues, and adult parties. Under these restrictions, sex parties are fine but don't even thinking about trying to bust a dance move at a wedding.
A spokesperson for Queensland Health admitted the pandemic "has been a unique challenge for health departments" to Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
As of now, the COVID Safe Industry Plan is the "best system to balance the health response necessary to keep our community safe with keeping life as normal as possible," added the spokesperson.
Although group sex is approved by the state government, "John" and "Jane," two anonymous swingers, aren't really eager to return to their sex club. Due to Queensland's lockdown from the coronavirus outbreak, they have stopped attending sex parties and private gatherings. Their latest swinging party was cancelled due to one of the couples feeling sick.
"The people we associate with are taking the virus quite seriously," confessed Jane. "Everyone was totally respectful of that and thanked them for not coming."
Though swapping partners may be deemed permissible, only the married couple and their parents are permitted on the dance floor under Queensland's current restrictions. Wedding entertainer Nik Edser says that because wedding guests aren't allowed to dance, the ban is actually hurting his business.
"We have had so many bookings cancelled because of the dancing rules," said Edser. "It's hurting photographers, celebrants, florists, stylists."
Edser isn't asking for Queensland Health to come up with harsher restrictions on sex-related activities. He supports the adult industry and would rather have the health department just ease up on the dancing ban.
"They're business owners just like us and they want to continue making their money and they're entitled to do that. I don't want to see this turn into them getting shut down, hurting another business," added Edser.
The wedding entertainer understood why stricter social distancing measures have been imposed, though. Cases of the coronavirus came about due to the large gatherings held at weddings. But if keeping individuals away from the dance floor continues to be a hard rule, people will find ways to go over the ban.
"I believe there's probably still many weddings where they just don't care, they're probably still dancing anyway," concluded Edser. "When people want to dance, they'll dance, and if we don't give them a safe option, that's the risk."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
