Wuhan Shake, and other jolly handshake alternatives to avoid a coronavirus infection

A deadly virus outbreak getting you all anxious about shaking hands with people? Don’t sweat it chief, you could always shake legs — and we’re not talking about the Singlish colloquialism for lazing around. 

In case you haven’t noticed, something called the Wuhan Shake has been trending on social media for the past week. Not to be confused with that over-played dance meme from 2013, the Wuhan Shake originated from a viral video clip in China, in which some jolly dudes greeted each other with feet taps in lieu of good ol’ handshakes. Because, you know, coronavirus infection and all. 

People in China found another way to greet since they can't shake hands.

The Wuhan Shake.

I love how people can adapt and keep a sense of humor about stressful situations. pic.twitter.com/P8MSfOdJ2H

— •*¨*•.¸¸✯*･?Ꮙ?•*¨*•.¸¸✯*¨ (@V_actually) February 29, 2020

It’s a jokey, trivial clip that’s pretty typical for viral Chinese content, but it’s something that news publications in the Western world have taken and run with. The likes of BBC, Mirror, Fox News, New York Post and more have had a field day with the video, hailing the foot taps — dubbed the Wuhan Shake — as a creative alternative to handshakes. 

‘Wuhan Shake’ greeting goes viral amid #coronavirus outbreak https://t.co/SZeurSmQW6 pic.twitter.com/DdD5bFUNJI

— New York Post (@nypost) March 2, 2020

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeQXeRO6rJc[/embed]

They’ve made it such a viral thing that folks outside China have started doing the same. Yeap, even CNA presenters are doing it. 

Lets do the #WuhanShake - a hands-free greeting after new #coronavirus prevents us from doing our usual greetings - #NoKissing #NoHandShake @SteveLaiCNA @ChannelNewsAsia pic.twitter.com/yXs76KcprV

— GlendaChongCNA (@GlendaChongCNA) March 3, 2020

When you find out #coronavirus is in NYC. #wuhanshake https://t.co/xQkc5MQbRY pic.twitter.com/FegEbPs8r8

— New York Post (@nypost) March 2, 2020

The "Wuhan Shake" has made it to #Africa where #Tanzania's President John Magufuli greeted Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad at the State House with a "leg shake" rather than a traditional handshake: https://t.co/c1tJKYCv2B pic.twitter.com/8VGjEJjsId

— Eric Olander 欧瑞克 (@eolander) March 4, 2020

Otherwise, they’ve come up with their own ways to avoid handshakes, like bumping elbows or, uh, bumping butts. 

The 'Wuhan shake' or the elbow bump?

How people around the world are avoiding shaking hands because of coronavirushttps://t.co/xSx2U94Fcr pic.twitter.com/FJepMv6puO

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 3, 2020

Aside from avoiding handshakes (or using condoms to touch elevator buttons), here are some other ways to prevent yourself from getting infected. 

ilyas@asiaone.com