Swiss sex workers have drawn up a list of rules which they say minimises the risk of transmitting coronavirus in brothels, in hopes that the country’s ban on the industry could soon be lifted.

It comes as Switzerland’s adult industry has been heavily hit by the pandemic, after the government placed a temporary ban on prostitution two months ago to help stop the spread of the virus.

The plan to reopen the industry, prepared by the organisation ProKoRe, suggests that sex positions which allow for a safe distance between faces, such as ‘doggy style’ and ‘reverse cowgirl’, are advisable.

These positions reduce the risk of transmission of the virus in water droplets, Swiss media outlet Watson reported.

Both ‘doggy style’ and ‘reverse cowgirl’ allow for the woman to face away from her sexual partner, avoiding face-to-face contact.

Other measures for protecting the health of sex workers include ventilating rooms for at least 15 minutes after each customer, and washing bed sheets and hand towels at a temperature of at least 60 degrees each time.

It also recommends sex workers to wear a mouth and nose covering at all times.

Gloves, condoms and disinfectants would also be provided at the brothels and each session should be kept to 15 minutes. Prostitution in Switzerland is legal and regulated, while trafficking, forcing people into prostitution and most forms of pimping are illegal.

As part of the measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, Switzerland temporarily banned prostitution from March 16.