Finding love during a national health crisis is no easy feat. While dating already presents its challenges, the onset of the COVID-19 put a damper on meeting someone new. Impacting work, school, and social gatherings, the coronavirus forced a new normal, adding to the stresses of dating and the options available for outings.
Preston Johnson, a Senior Logistics Analyst, considers the comfort level of his date during the pandemic. “Well, it’s not as simple as me picking a place to eat or to meet up anymore. I now have to ask my date where she feels comfortable going or what she feels comfortable doing. If they’re not comfortable with that idea, then it forces you to become more creative as to how you will see the person,” Johnson says.
Breanna Turmon, the owner of Project Recap TV, began dating her significant other just before the rise of COVID-19. “We met before the pandemic in December. We went out on a few dates, but we didn’t have that much experience (with each other) before COVID hit,” Turmon explains.
As coronavirus began to impact face-to-face interactions, dating apps became a simple way to connect with new people without leaving the comforts of home. Utilizing the Facebook Dating site, Turmon almost deactivated her dating profile just before meeting her boyfriend.
“I was about to shut my page down. I didn’t have any expectations,” Turmon says.
Like Turmon, JeTonna Lewis, and Emmanuel Heard used the power of dating apps. Beginning on Badoo, Lewis, and Heard became an official item in December 2019. Working in the healthcare industry, Lewis explains that being a medical professional impacted her mental health and relationship through the pandemic.
“I work in the ER, one of the hardest impacted in the city during the pandemic. I have PTSD because of it. At times, I don’t want to be bothered because I’ve just had enough human interaction,” Lewis shares.
Having a mate who works in the healthcare industry had just the opposite effect on Heard.
“I feel that it has brought me closer to whom she is as an individual and to her aspirations in life. Her work has also brought upon a strengthened sense and respect for human life in general,” Heard says.
While dating apps made it easier for some to find companionship, others want a more traditional way of meeting. However, the use of masks makes it difficult to approach a potential suitor.
“As a man, I’m very visual, so it’s difficult to see how a woman looks if she’s wearing a mask. So, if I’m able to catch a glimpse of her when she takes the mask off, then I’ll make the decision on if I will approach her or not,” Johnson says.
Despite the use of masks, Sarina Williams was able to find love amid COVID-19. Williams, a mortgage professional, met her boyfriend during the height of COVID-19. “I met him during the pandemic in April. Right smack dab in the middle of social distancing,” Williams shares.
In a chance meeting, Williams crossed paths with her companion while visiting a friend who tested positive for the virus. “I was dropping off a care package for her and met him while visiting. I gave him my number, and he called later that night and left a voicemail expressing how nice it was to meet me,” Williams says.
Williams also took precautions during her first face-to-face encounter with her now-boyfriend.
“We had masks on during our first meeting,” she says. “Our first real date, he went to a restaurant and got carryout and came to my house. We watched movies, and we were not wearing masks during that date.”
With many businesses closed, couples are being forced to find new and innovative ways to spend time together. Video apps like Zoom and FaceTime have become an alternative to simple phone conversations. “When lockdown started, we did virtual date nights at least once a week.
“I would get dressed lipstick and all. We would just talk for hours. Now, we try to go out when we aren’t tired from work,” Lewis says.
Along with virtual dates, nature has also played a part in keeping dating alive. “We’re doing a lot of outdoor things: bonfires and patio dates,” Turmon says of her relationship.
As couples continue to navigate their dating lives, they are also faced with the topic of intimacy. Is it possible to be affectionate without the fear of the coronavirus?
“We weren’t kissing or anything. We did temperature checks on each other for the first two weeks of seeing each other,” Williams shares.
“In the beginning, I was afraid to kiss him. But now, I know who he is around, and I’m not nervous to be intimate,” Turmon says.
Both Heard and Lewis agree they do not wear masks in each other’s presence, and intimacy has not changed between them.
“Honestly, it’s still the same as it was before corona,” Lewis explains.
Although the fear of the virus continues to be a factor in relationships, some dating factors remain the same.
“I think the same nervousness of getting to know new people remains unphased by the pandemic,” Johnson says. “Be careful how you evaluate the person you’re dating during times like this. Routines aren’t normal, and our way of life has been turned upside down.
Whether single, exclusively dating, or in an entanglement, remembering to practice social distancing, sanitization, and wearing masks will help protect you and your loved ones during the COVID season.
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