It’s probably no surprise to our members, but global pandemic or not, singles gotta mingle, and that means hookups are happening. In a new piece by the NY Times on dating during a pandemic, we learned that

people are meeting up, cuddling, making out and having sex with new partners, often weighing their emotional and physical needs against safety concerns. Some have gone about their private lives quietly, out of fear that those in their social circles — especially couples — would judge their choices.

Why is it so “shameful” to be dating right now?

“Even pre-pandemic there was a lot of stigma around sexuality and sex in general. With the pandemic, there’s another layer of expectations and judgment,” said Dr. Oni Blackstock.

And how can we date safely amidst a world of hand sanitizer, masks, and forced social distancing?

[It] could mean setting boundaries and conditions from the outset, like regular testing (keep in mind that tests can show false negatives, especially if the amount of the virus in the body is too small to be detected, and that whoever is taking the test could be infected while waiting for results), quarantining before meeting and sticking to a single partner.

And can you get frisky, even if you’re worried about the virus? There are a few safe ways people have come up with:

When a test is not possible, people are finding ways to be creative with their sexuality.

One of the women Cooper matched with on Tinder suggested meeting in a park and using a remote-controlled vibrator while they were seated several feet apart on a bench. Later, she drove him around while he masturbated.

“She kept her mask on,” Cooper said. The face covering stayed in place when she came over to his apartment, too, and they pleasured themselves on opposite ends of the couch. (Eventually, after Cooper took a coronavirus test, they had sex.)

So, whether you are dating or not right now – never fear. You’re not alone. For more ideas on how to safely date during COVID-19, here are a few tips.