While the Covid-19 outbreak worldwide has certainly caused much panic and suffering, it seems to have unintentionally resulted in a wellspring of creativity.
Here are some innovative ways people are coping with the virus.
Feet taps
And as the outbreak in mainland China shows no sign of abating, its citizens have devised a rather smart way of avoiding direct contact with peers.
A video posted to Reddit's subreddit r/Funny by one user Frocharocha featured a couple of men, all donning masks.
Two men approach each other and are about to greet each other in the conventional method of a handshake.
However, they hesitate and do a double take, before moving forward again to tap each foot once against the other's foot.
Here's what they did.
[video width="272" height="480" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2020/02/People-in-China-found-another-way-to-greet-since-they-cant-shake-hands.mp4"][/video]
The man then continues on to exchange feet taps with his other friends as they say "Hello" in Chinese.
Pretty creative.
The rather charming exchanges have sparked comments by several Redditors, in an attempt to name the new gesture.
Handshakes discouraged
Covid-19 is known to spread via prolonged or direct contact with an infected person, and can be spread via droplets as well.
Considering the number of surfaces and items we touch with our hands, the virus could be easily transmitted through handshakes, as it is spread by droplets or contamination of surfaces.
France for example, has warned its people to refrain from shaking hands, Reuters reported.
A similar advisory was given out by the Singapore government when the country raised its DORSCON alert level to Orange.
In a list of precautionary measures introduced, the Ministry of Health discouraged people from shaking hands, stating that alternative greetings can be adopted instead.
Top photo from u/Frocharocha / Reddit