No more hugs?
As the world braces for a second wave of the swine flu that broke out in the spring and resulted in the deaths of more than 2,100 people worldwide, the disease is altering long-established patterns of everyday greeting. Handshakes have been cut short, kisses aborted. Warm embraces have been supplanted by curt pats on the back. The school district in Glen Cove, N.Y., is discouraging students from exchanging high-fives. In Spain, the health minister has urged citizens to forgo the customary peck on both cheeks. Officials from Lebanon to Kuwait have called for Muslims celebrating Ramadan not to hug excessively. New York City — where Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg this week announced a series of steps to prepare for a resurgence of the virus — has no formal stance on touching. “Kids touch each other, and that’s the real world,” the mayor said on Tuesday, when asked about the matter. “And I’m not so sure you want a kid that doesn’t want to high-five or hug or something. But I won’t get involved in that. I think the practical aspect is that kids, whether on the playground or in school, tend to get close to each other, and hopefully parents have taught them that when they cough, cover their mouth, or when they sneeze, cover their nose.” – from NYTimes