Goodbye, handshake -- for now, at least. And the custom in some European countries like France of cheek kissing, well, we bid that "adieu," as well. Hugs are also banished for the time being.
Replacing these traditional forms of friendly greeting during this chaotic time of COVID-19 are awkward and ugly -- but safe -- forms of personal greetings that didn't exist one month ago.
Say, hello, to the "elbump" (a portmanteau of elbow bump) and the "footshake," also known as the "Wuhan Shake."
The new coronavirus etiquette is definitely weird, to say the least. But even the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning against close personal contacts such as handshakes, along with other governments. Sylvie Briand, WHO director of the pandemic and epidemic diseases department, is advocating alternative greetings like the footshake, the Thai "wai" and bumping elbows.
The Ministry of Health & Prevention of the UAE, for example, launched a social media campaign showing how not to spread COVID-19. The illustration shows no handshaking, no wrapping an arm around another person and, of course, no nose-to-nose greeting, which is traditional among Arabs.
Elbumping and footshaking are going viral on social media with videos from various COVID-19-infected countries showing people doing it. There is a social media video from Wuhan, China (where COVID-19 began in December 2019) showing five facemasked and light-hearted Chinese men footshaking with each other.
The Chinese call footshaking, the "Wuhan Shake." The footshake is said to have been invented in Wuhan.
A video from Iran, which has the third largest number of COVID-19 deaths outside China at 145 as of March 7, shows three facemasked males footshaking. Interestingly, two of these men keep their hands inside their pants pockets while footshaking, probably to resist the urge to shake hands. A video from the United Kingdom (209 COVID-19 cases) shows teens and tweens from two basketball teams footshaking before the start of their game.
World leaders are doing it, as well. In the U.S. state of Nebraska, Governor Pete Ricketts has opted for the elbump instead of the hand shake. "One thing I'm doing: Encouraging Nebraskans to bump elbows instead of shaking hands. Simples steps can make a big difference!" he tweeted.
He also urges Nebraskans to "exercise good hygiene like washing your hands and other precautions," adding that "simple steps can make a big difference."
A viral video last week shows Tanzanian President John Magufuli greeting opposition politician Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad by footshaking. Mohammed Barkindo, OPEC secretary general, was videoed footshaking with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak at the OPEC conference in Vienna last week.
