There’s no way around it; 2020 has been awful. This is the most trying time any of us will experience in our lives, courtesy of Covid-19. As we adapt to the new normal, a lot has had to change; but NO, that does not include your beard. The rise of the “quarantine beard” does not, in fact, put you in danger.

The Covid-19 outbreak has caused a new kind of beard boom as men staying home have taken to growing out their facial hair and showing off their dazzling new look with the #CoronaBeard hashtag. Naturally, because we can’t have nice things, a bogus bit of “news” began to circulate that facial hair puts you at an elevated risk. Now, that is, of course, not true as rated by Politifact.

Bearded or not, the same rules apply: Social distancing, wear a mask, practice good hygiene, and don’t touch your face.

According to Carrie L. Kovarik, associate professor of dermatology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and ohn Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at UC Berkley’s School of Public Health, there’s simply no evidence to support these claims.

The fact is,  Covid-19 has affected the entire globe, which includes many countries full of men who keep a beard for religious reasons. None of the data supports a higher infection rate amongst the bearded population in these places.

Keep your beard, keep it clean, and follow the aforementioned guidelines; you won’t have a problem.