How to Date During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Staying Safe

Avoid meeting in person unless you live with your partner. Unfortunately, the best way to help prevent the spread of coronavirus is to stay away from other people as much as possible. Remember, even if you both think you're not sick, either one of you could have the germs and transmit them to the other person. Even if you never show symptoms, you could pass the virus on to others who might be affected more severely. If the person you're dating asks you to get together in person, try saying something like, "I'm so sorry, but I'm self-isolating for the next 2 weeks because of the coronavirus. Let's set up a videochat date instead!"

Stay 6 ft (1.8 m) away if you do meet in person. While it's best right now to avoid being around others as much as possible, if you're in a monogamous relationship and you and your partner are both practicing social distancing, you may decide that it's worth the risk to see each other. However, it's still best to limit any physical contact until the worst of the contagion has passed. For instance, you should sit or stand a minimum of 6 ft (1.8 m) each other, and avoid being physically affectionate or intimate for now. In addition, avoid going anywhere with large crowds of people. Even if there's no curfew or shelter-in-place order where you live, going to a bar or restaurant is a big risk. Try visiting an uncrowded park or nature trail so you can spend time together outside without risking becoming infected. Tip: Deciding how much you're going to self-isolate is a very personal choice. Don't let anyone pressure you into meeting up with them in person if you feel anxious or unsure about it, even if it's someone you know well.

Don't leave the house if you're feeling sick. Even if you really miss your sweetheart, if you're feeling under the weather at all, you need to stay home. If you have the coronavirus and you're in relatively good health, you're most likely just going to be a little sick for a while. However, if you spread those germs to someone who's immunocompromised or has another underlying condition, they may be affected much more severely. Tell your date something like, "I know we were going to walk down the boardwalk today, but I woke up feeling a little feverish. To be safe, I'm going to stay home."

Avoid giving out personal information to anyone you meet online. During a time of social distancing, it's natural to turn to dating apps and social media to meet new people, especially if you're single and looking for someone to date. However, it's important to be particularly vigilant about protecting your privacy, since it will be harder to learn someone's true intentions when you aren't able to meet them in person. Until you're sure someone is who they claim to be, avoid telling them anything too personal about yourself, like your address, full name, or how much money you make. Don't send money to anyone you meet online.

Going on Virtual Dates

Agree on a time and platform for your date. A virtual date can be a great way to spend some face-to-face time together, even if you can't be in the same room. Make plans for your date just like you normally would, except instead of agreeing on a time to meet up and a restaurant to visit, you'll set a time to call each other, and decide what platform you want to use to chat. Popular video-chat apps include FaceTime (if you both have an iOS device), Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Skype. Look on sites like LinkedIn and Instagram to find online events that the two of you can try together, like virtual happy hours, hangouts, or meetups.

Get dressed up the way you normally would. If you want your date to feel special, take a few minutes to change out of the PJs you've been wearing for 3 days. Smooth your hair, put on a nice top, and dab on a little makeup if you normally wear it. That way, your date will feel more intentional and memorable. It's a good idea to mention this to your date ahead of time, so they don't call you in THEIR 3-day-old PJs. For instance, you might text them with a picture of 2 shirts and say, "I'm really excited about our date tonight but I can't decide what to wear! Which shirt do you like better?"

Tidy up the space where you'll be chatting. Before your date starts, look around the area that will be behind you when the camera is on. Then, take some time to declutter that space—even if it's true, you don't want it to look like you've been living off frozen pizza, chips, and sodas for a week straight. Remember, you might want to shift your position a little during the call, so it's a good idea to straighten up the whole room you'll be in, rather than just a square that might be on camera. Having a clean environment won't just impress your date—it may help you relax into a more romantic mindset, as well.

Make sure your device is charged and plugged in. There's nothing that will spoil your virtual date faster than a flashing low-battery signal. To make sure you don't have to interrupt your conversation to find a charger, get all of that set up ahead of time. If you won't be able to plug in your device during your date, consider using a portable energy bank, if you have one.

Give your date your full attention. Once you and your crush start your call, it's important that you aren't distracted, or they might think you aren't that into them. For instance, turn off your TV, and schedule your date for a time you won't be interrupted by other people. If you're calling from your phone, consider muting any other notifications, like texts, phone calls, and other chat apps. If you're video chatting from a tablet or another device, put your phone on silent until the date is over.

Order take-out if you want to share a meal. If you and your date love going out to eat together, coronavirus doesn't have to cancel your plans completely. If you live close to each other, both of you might order from your favorite restaurant, but instead of dining in, you could order it for delivery or curbside pickup. If you don't live close to each other, try to find a chain restaurant that you can both order from. You could also both cook a meal at the same time, then sit down and enjoy it together. For instance, you might both try to make the same recipe, or you could make up a creative meal out of whatever you have on hand. Bonus points for the best presentation!

Stream a movie together. Don't cancel your weekend movie plans just because of coronavirus! Instead, find a movie you've both been excited to see. Even if you rent something, it will still cost less than going to the movies, but there are plenty of free movies that you can stream from a variety of platforms. Some third-party apps will let you host your own watch party so you can easily sync up your movie! For instance, Facebook has a Watch Party option and Google Chrome has a Netflix Part extension.

Try an online workout class together. If you and your crush are super active, you don't have to miss your regular after-work gym session. Instead, find a live stream of a workout video, then set up your devices on a video chat and get your heart rate up! Not only is this an awesome bonding experience, but it's a great stress reliever, too. If working out isn't your thing, try having an online dance party, instead.

Play an online game together. Whether you're a little competitive or you're just looking for a way to pass some time together, video games can be a great option for your virtual date. If you have a video game console that has internet access, try to find a game that will let you connect with your crush, and have fun either playing co-op or head-to-head. Some popular games with co-op features include Borderlands 2 and 3, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Portal 2. If you'd prefer to play against each other, try games like Rocket League, Mortal Combat X, or Overwatch.

Supporting Each Other Emotionally

Have a conversation about how often you should talk. During an unprecedented situation like the coronavirus outbreak, it's important that you and your partner have honest conversations about what you both expect from the relationship. Try asking them how often they'd like to hear from you, and let them know what your needs are, as well. For instance, you might say something like, "I hate I won't get to see you while this is going on. I was thinking we could call each other every night before bed, but you can always text me any time you want. What do you think?"

Videochat and talk on the phone instead of just texting. Texting can be a good way to stay in touch with the person you like, but it's not very personal. Connecting with someone else can be a great way to help overcome some of the isolation and anxiety that come along with a disaster like a coronavirus outbreak, so try to make time for at least a short phone call or video chat each day. Your voice and facial expressions convey a lot more emotion than just a wall of text, so they're a lot more effective at having reassuring or romantic conversations.

Be a good listener. When you do get a chance to chat with your crush, don't just talk about what you have going on. Make sure to ask open-ended questions that may help your partner open up about what they're feeling and let out any frustrations or sadness that they have. They'll likely appreciate the chance to talk about themselves, especially if they're cooped up at home. For instance, you might ask something like, "What's the first place you're going to go when things get back to normal?"

Try to be positive and uplifting. It can be hard to keep an upbeat attitude if you're feeling stressed, but remember that everyone else is feeling that way, too. However, if you can bring a positive energy to your partner, they're going to appreciate and value you, which may bring the two of you closer together. It's still fine to express any concerns or fears you have, or to talk about your circumstances if things aren't going well. Just try not to let that be the focus of the conversation.

Make future plans together. Since life has changed so much lately, it's too soon right now to imagine what the world will look like after the coronavirus outbreak. But that doesn't mean you have to shut down any talk of plans altogether. Chances are, things will slowly start returning to normal soon enough, so have fun daydreaming about the things you'll do together when you get the chance. For instance, you might talk about the places you'll go out to eat, fun activities you'd like to try, or how much you're both looking forward to being affectionate with each other again. Perhaps you could even suggest a place that you two could visit together.