To handshake or not to handshake? That is the question. Amidst the coronavirus outbreak, we all have mixed feelings about how to greet people nowadays. Yet in any formal setting, a formal greeting is necessary.
We know that we must avoid breathing too close to each other. So no getting too close, people. Instead, what we can do is these greetings that involve no touching at all.
Let’s dig in.
1. The Fist-Bump
This is a classic. Brief skin-to-skin contact, from a good distance away.
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2. Iranian Bump-Bump
Indian namaste , elbow bump or Iranian bum-bump? What’s your favourite handshake greeting alternative?? #SaturdayThoughts #Caronavirus #greeting #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/tqAVdgzJvO
— Shipra Kapadia ( Mompreneur ) (@KapadiaShipra) March 7, 2020
If you’re weird about fist bumps do an elbow bump. Make sure those elbows are covered because we’re supposed to be coughing and sneezing into our elbow.
3. The Wuhan Shake
https://twitter.com/V_actually/status/1233785527788285953
Some kids on TikTok came up with this one. (in case you couldn’t tell). It’s basically a feet-bump.
4. Winking
Forget the Iranian elbow bump and Wuhan shake, nothing beats a classic wink.
5. Namaste
Life in the coronavirus era: Trump, with the Indian-origin Irish prime minister by his side, explains how we can do without handshakes. He says India and Japan, with their no-touch greeting customs, were "ahead of the curve." pic.twitter.com/jGQdfkYKSj
— Dr. Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) March 13, 2020
This one is really catching on as Trump used this to greet the Irish Prime Minister. For once a valid excuse for cultural appropriation.
6. Vulcan Greeting
This one’s perfect. No physical contact, no cultural appropriation and it’s hip! One of the best Corona virus greetings so far.
7. Galaxy Quest Greeting
How I’m greeting people from now on #COVID19 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/SakxQD56Vi
— 𝔼𝕁 🧞♀️ (@EJwasalwayscool) March 11, 2020
Another greeting borrowed from pop-culture. It’s not as catchy as the Vulcan greeting but it does the job.
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8. Wakanda Forever Salute
In the spirit of avoiding #Coronavirus, I will be greeting everyone with a “Wakana Forever” until a vaccine is readily available. To my white friends, feel free to us this opportunity to throw it back when you see it. I’m a H.O.E. #HealthOverEverything pic.twitter.com/gzkTW2DenM
— Winston A. Marshall (@TheSwaggyBlerd) March 6, 2020
As the only place on Earth equipped to deal with a crisis like this, we ought to pay tribute to Wakanda here. I think this is probably the best Corona virus greeting.
9. Hand on My Heart
https://twitter.com/Dualleh9/status/1237517514927558656
Ethiopia played it smart and are just greeting people with a hand on their heart before Corona gets out of hand. That’s heart-touching (pun intended)
10. Finger Heart
Look we had to get creative. So if you can wink then a finger heart is okay too.
So, which one of these Coronavirus greetings did you like. Most importantly which one of these will you be using?
