An outbreak of COVID-19/coronavirus is sweeping the world, with entire industries being shut down and simple day-to-day interactions requiring modification. Changes have been made across the globe when it comes to social and physical interactions, and the CDC has been making recommendations to the public to quell the spread of the virus, which include avoiding contact with the sick and hand washing.
Among those common social interactions being avoided is the handshake, and there's been a suggestion the Vulcan salute from Star Trek should replace the greeting, which is so logical one might believe it came from the mind of Spock himself.
The CDC is recommending people avoid contact with the sick, but there can be difficulties determine just who might have been infected. There are certainly a number of alternatives when considering abandoning the friendly handshake greeting. However, many still involve some element of physical contact or can be interpreted as awkward or insincere. When looking at the options, nothing is as delightful, quick and easy as the Vulcan salute from Star Trek. It's also a well-known gesture and is recognized by the nerdy and un-nerdy alike.
The Vulcan salute was first seen in Season 2, Episode 1, "Amok Time," when Spock returns home and interacts with his fellow Vulcans and is done by parting the main four fingers to create a V shape. Spock actor Leonard Nimoy designed the Vulcan salute himself, basing it off of a Jewish blessing typically used by priests that he'd seen as a child. In the case of preventing the spread of COVID-19, the Vulcan salute still allows people to be friendly, but makes physical contact less necessary in the process. There's also a lot of positive connotations to the gesture, as it communicates one should "live long and prosper."
It's important not to allow worldwide panic and fear of a virus to control your every move. But if you are considering making small changes, like swapping out your usual handshake greeting, a Vulcan salute is clearly far more logical than avoiding human interaction altogether. It definitely would help those concerned about contracting COVID-19 a way to follow the CDC's rules, and it's a recognizable gesture with a great meaning. What more could one want?