As of this Saturday, June 6, steam is back in Swiss saunas and spas. The same day, in the wake of the resumption of erotic services across the country, this will also be the case in the saunas dedicated to sexual encounters. Lovers, gay, bi or straight, will find their favorite backrooms, labyrinths and glory holes after twelve long weeks of (relative) abstinence.

However, not everything will resume as before. The group of gay establishments in Vegas has just issued its protection concepts, in close collaboration with the health authorities. In addition to the measures now usual (protected employees, limitation of the number of customers, hydroalcoholic gel available, etc.), establishments will be required to ask customers to leave their contact details at reception. These will be sealed every day, with the aim of making it possible to discreetly alert customers who have attended the establishment at the same time as a person tested positive for coronavirus in the days that follow.

Individual responsibility
Additional condition: the social distance of 2m will apply, or failing this the reduction of presence to 15 minutes, by self-checking. A somewhat theoretical measure, in the case of saunas and sex clubs, right? “This leaves the issue of physical contact between individuals to individual responsibility. Finally, as with HIV and other STIs, ”says Florent Jouinot, Swiss Aid against AIDS.

As you can imagine, this pioneering reopening - other countries that have started early deconfinement like Austria, Denmark or Germany have not yet authorized it - is a relief for establishments weakened by almost three months of 'inactivity. In Lausanne, the Trafick passed close to final closure, a heartbreak for its managers after six years of hard work. "When we learned on March 13 that we had to close the same day, we collapsed," recalls Laurent. And then we found arrangements with our owner, some customers set up a kitty and others, who have skills for the work, gave us a hand. ”