RALEIGH, N.C. -- The pandemic is presenting a new and unusual challenge for people looking for love.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Dating during a pandemic is difficult, but not impossible

  • Socially distant dates can mean phone calls, FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom

  • A local dating expert says having virtual dates before meeting in person can be beneficial even outside of a pandemic

 

Festivals and concerts have been canceled and bars are still closed, so meeting people on a regular night out just isn’t happening right now. 

“I personally don’t think this is going anywhere anytime soon, so I think it is an adjustment that all single people are working toward,” said Raleigh resident Ross Shinafelt. 

While some may prefer to swipe their way to a partner on a dating app, Ross, 34,  says he prefers to meet in person, even if that means putting extra precautions in place. 

“I’ve had someone come over where we essentially have, like you said, a beer in the backyard, we're distant, just kind of communicating, getting to know each other a little bit, and it was outdoors. Like I said, I felt safe about that,” Shinafelt said. 

Deborah Besinger is a dating coach in Raleigh and believes a human connection can take place even in a time of social distancing. 

“You know, you have a phone date, and then you have a video date, and when you have a video date, have a cocktail or something," said Besinger. "Set aside a couple of hours. If it is going well, you can keep chatting. You can have dinner together on Zoom.” 

Besinger says even a short chat before meeting in person is a good idea, advice she was doling out pre-Covid 19. 

“Get all that first-date awkwardness out of the way on that first phone call," Besinger said. "If you can’t have an easy ten minute phone call with someone, then you don’t need to meet them.”