Highlights

1. Use Your Own Hookah
2. Wash hands for 20 seconds+ 
3. Satitize your hookah before and after use
4. Maintain social distancing
5. Maintain high standard of personal hygiene

COVID-19, the flu-like disease cause by the coronavirus, is the biggest flu the world has seen since the Swine Flu of 10 years ago. And the fact that it is a highly infectious virus and can be transmitted through a simple handshake makes it even deadlier. To avoid getting sick and passing on the disease, good hookah smoking hygiene is a must during this Covid-19 period. Here are a 5 tips to ensure that you and your friends are safe as you share a smoking session.

1.Use Your Own Hookah

Actaully use your own hookah when possible. If sharing is a must, just carrying and using your own hose tip will cut the risk of exposure to the coronavirus by almost half. This is because the virus can survive on surfaces for hours. Catching it is therefore as easy as sharing stuff with someone infected. To keep safe when having fun with friends, avoid using the same tip.

You can also make it a requirement for everyone in your group to have their own tip. This way, you all look out for each other and that’s what friends do, right? Don’t watch them risk themselves and do nothing.

If possible use a disposable hose. This is a great way to add an additional layer of safety. However, make sure that every person uses their own hose tip.

2.Sanitize Your Hookah Before and After Every Use

It is always good to clean your hookah immediately after use, but to be honest, not everyone does. Sometimes we do it the next day, or maybe just forget about it until we want to enjoy our favorite shisha again. If you are smoking with people you do not live together with, make sure to clean your hookah and throw away your hose tip after every use.

If you are at a friend’s place, you may not have a hookah to clean, but make sure to clean and sanitize your tip before storing it away. Also, considering that your hands can easily pick up the virus from surfaces you touch, it would be a great idea not to be too touchy with your hose tip. Only hold the base of the tip and not the top that goes into your hands.

3.Maintain Social Distancing

Even when enjoying a smoking session with friends, make sure that all put plenty of space between every one of you. You want to have a good time, not potentially catch a deadly disease. An easy way is to put the hookah in the middle and form a circle around it. That way you all have easy access, and you can still tell stories.

Also avoid giving hugs and kisses. Especially kisses *wink*. It’s ok to share a hookah, but not hugs and kisses. It could be a difficult thing to do, especially if you are with people you are very close to. But it is always better to be safe than sorry. And when the pandemic is over, you can still share as many hugs as you want.

4.Maintain High Standards of Personal Hygiene

When infected, it may take several days before the first symptoms show. This makes it impossible to tell who among your buddies is infected and who is not until when it’s too late. This makes high personal hygiene the best way to keep yourself from getting or spreading coronavirus.

Wash your hands frequently and always carry a small pocket sanitizer with you. When with friends, always cover your mouth with a handkerchief or elbow when coughing or sneezing.

General hygiene is highly expected to ensure that everyone is comfortable and having fun. Do not be the guy that people want to stay far away from because they do not feel safe around you.

5.Stay Home! It’s Crazy Outside

The best way to keep yourself safe during this period is to remain at home. Considering how contagious Covid-19 is social gatherings are a dangerous place to be. That means that hookah lounges should also be a no-go zone during this crisis.

If you must meet with friends, meet at home, but make sure high hygiene standards are maintained. It also goes without saying that in case you develop symptoms, stay at home and self-quarantine to avoid potentially spreading the virus.

STAY HOME! STAY SAFE! COVID-19 IS REAL. NOT A JOKE...