When both you and your partner are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, a common question arises: can you still share a bed? While it might seem counterintuitive to maintain close contact during illness, understanding how the virus behaves when both individuals are already infected can help inform this decision.
Can You Make Each Other Sicker?
Once both individuals have contracted COVID-19, particularly the same variant, their immune systems are already actively engaged in fighting the virus. This means the primary risk of transmitting the virus to each other is significantly reduced, as their bodies are already responding to the infection. It is generally unlikely that continuous exposure to the same viral strain from an already infected partner would cause a new, distinct infection or substantially worsen existing symptoms.
Viral load, which is the amount of virus in the body, typically peaks early in the infection and then begins to decline. While continuous exchange of viral particles is possible, the immune response already in place generally mitigates this risk when both partners are infected with the same strain.
Tips for Sharing a Bed Comfortably
For couples who decide to share a bed while both are positive for COVID-19, focusing on comfort and practical measures can help manage the illness. Ensuring good ventilation in the bedroom is beneficial, which can be achieved by opening windows or using a fan to improve air circulation. This helps to reduce the concentration of airborne viral particles in the shared space.
Maintaining diligent personal hygiene is important. This includes using separate tissues, frequent handwashing, and avoiding sharing personal items like cups or towels. If sharing a bed, washing bedding more frequently can contribute to a cleaner environment. Communication about symptoms and needs is helpful, allowing each partner to manage their discomfort without unduly disturbing the other.
Prioritizing rest and hydration is important for recovery from any illness, including COVID-19. Even if sharing a bed, positioning yourselves for minimal disturbance, such as sleeping head-to-toe, can help each person achieve more restorative sleep. Gentle symptom management, like using quiet cough drops, can prevent interrupting a partner’s rest.
When Separate Sleeping is Best
While sharing a bed may be acceptable for two individuals both infected with the same COVID-19 variant, certain situations suggest that sleeping separately is a more prudent choice. If there is a possibility that partners have contracted different COVID-19 variants, separate sleeping might be advisable. Although co-infection with multiple variants is uncommon, it can occur and may complicate the course of the illness.
Separate sleeping is also beneficial if one partner experiences significantly more severe symptoms or has underlying health conditions, such as being immunocompromised. In these instances, reducing any additional viral exposure, even from an already infected partner, can be a wise precaution to support their recovery. Vulnerable individuals may require a more controlled environment to minimize any potential risks.
If one partner’s symptoms, like persistent coughing, restlessness, or fever, are significantly disrupting the other’s ability to get essential rest, separate sleeping can promote better recovery for both. Adequate sleep is important for the immune system and overall healing. Consulting a healthcare provider for personalized guidance is recommended, especially if concerns about symptom severity or transmission arise.