Say no to a handshake, give up high fives, refuse kisses on the cheek and definitely avoid hugging.

All around the world people are changing their daily habits at work and at home to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus and prevent it from spreading.

Here are some of the ways that habits are changing around the world.

China

In Beijing, the capital of the country where the outbreak began, red billboards tell people not to shake hands but to join their own hands together in a sign of greeting.

Loudspeakers tell people to make the traditional gong shou gesture (a fist in the opposite palm) to say hello.

France

Newspapers have been filled with advice over how to replace handshaking – a daily formality for the French at work and kissing on the cheek, a regular greeting habit in France even between people who have only just met.

Lifestyle expert Philippe Lichtfus, who has been widely cited in the media, insists that handshakes are a relatively recent development in human history that began in the Middle Ages.

He says simply looking into a person’s eyes can suffice as a greeting.

Australia

Brad Hazzard, the New South Wales health minister, advised people not to shake hands and instead give each other a pat on the back. “I won’t say don’t kiss” he said, “but you could be exercising a degree of care and caution with whom you choose to kiss.”

Brazil

The Brazilian health ministry has recommended that citizens not share the metal straws traditionally used to consume the caffeine-rich South American drink mate, also known as chimarrão.

And a kiss – even if it is not on the mouth – is totally advised against.

Germany

In a sign of the times, Germany’s interior minister Horst Seehofer rebuffed Chancellor Angela Merkel’s attempt to shake hands with him on Monday, smiling and keeping both his hands to himself.

They both laughed and Merkel threw her hand up in the air before taking a seat.

Spain

The outbreak could also hit one of Spain’s most cherished traditions – the kissing of sculptures of the Virgin Mary in the week leading up to Easter.

With just a month to go before the week starts, the ritual could be banned. “It is one of the measures that is on the table,” said national health official Fernando Simon.

During the holy week, the faithful queue up to kiss the hands or feet of sculptures of Mary and the saints, seeking their protection.

Romania

Romania’s Martisor festival marks the beginning of spring when talismanic strings and flowers are handed out, often from men to women.

But the government has passed on a message to people urging them to hand over the flowers and talismans without the accompanying kiss. “Let’s give the flowers but not the kiss,” said Nelu Tataru, state secretary at the health ministry.

Poland

In Poland, one of Europe’s most Catholic countries, the faithful are allowed to take “spiritual communion” instead of consuming the communal bread – or the host can be taken in the hands rather than the mouth.

The faithful are also asked not to dip their hands in the holy water when going in and out of the church and instead make the sign of the cross.

Iran

In Iran, where 66 have been killed by the coronavirus, a video has gone viral showing three friends meeting, hands in their pockets and two of whom are wearing masks, tapping their feet against each other as a greeting.

A similar video in Lebanon shows singer Ragheb Alama and comedian Michel Abou Sleiman tapping their feet against each other while making kissing noises with their mouths.

UAE

The United Arab Emirates, as well as Qatar, are advising citizens to stop the traditional “nose to nose” greeting. The UAE also said that people shouldn’t shake hands anymore or kiss. Greet each other “by waving only”, it said.

AFP contributed to this report.