Nicola Sturgeon’s plan to ease lockdown may prevent couples who live apart from having sex for months.
Outdoor meetings must be physically distanced and indoor encounters are not allowed - leaving partners frustrated.
The First Minister said of the curbs: “I am of course aware of the particular difficulties and challenges that poses for couples.”
A sex ban has effectively been in place over the last two months for couples living in different properties.
This is because a key element of lockdown involves staying at home and observing a two metre rule when outside.
Couples were hopeful Thursday’s four-stage plan to ease back to normality would help the physical side of the relationship.
However, the Government plan is silent on indoor intimacy.
Phase one, which will kick in on Thursday, allows one household to meet up with another, but only outdoors and with physical distancing “required”.
No timescale was offered for when this phase will end.
Asked about the dilemma facing couples, Sturgeon said yesterday:
“Couples who live apart, obviously I understand the difficulties and challenges of that. But for this next phase we will still be asking, unfortunately, for people in different households who are meeting up to stay two metres apart.”
Phase two would allow people to meet others from another household indoors, but with “physical distancing and hygiene measures.”
The third phase is similar: “By this stage, you will be able to meet with people from more than one household indoors with physical distancing and hygiene measures.”
Phase four appears less restrictive: “We will expect to see further relaxation on restrictions on gatherings and the continued importance of hygiene and public health will be emphasised.”
Couples fear their relationships will be damaged by the sex curb and singletons are also unhappy.
In the Netherlands, single men and women have been advised to organise a “seksbuddy” (sex buddy) after criticism of rules which dicatated that home visitors maintain a 1.5-metre distance.
A Glasgow woman, who has not seen her boyfriend for two months, said: “It’s frustrating seeing other European countries talk about the realities of sex during the pandemic, while the UK and Scot governments are almost deliberately avoiding it. It’s made sex a taboo subject again, like the elephant in the room no one wants to have a discussion about, which in 2020 is a bit embarrassing.”
Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "Easing the lockdown requires total clarity. If the Government are really proposing months more with no physical contact for couples who live apart, they should say so and reflect on how sustainable this is going to be.
"A comprehensive testing regime could allow us much needed time with loved ones, whether that be partners, relatives or close friends. I have pressed the Scottish government to put these measures in place, but sadly we are still seeing our limited testing capacity being underutilised."
