Self-isolating for the indeterminable future - though necessary - is a less than ideal situation for anyone.
But with so many digital alternatives out there for everything from fitness classes to live-streamed concerts, we seem to have most of our bases covered. For those of us who don’t have a significant other to isolate with, dating doesn’t have to take a backseat either.
If anything, digital dating seems to have flourished under the circumstances. Since the lockdown, Tinder has reported an increase in daily conversations on the app by 12 per cent and over over three billion swipes globally on Sunday, March 29, that's more than on any other day in the history of Tinder. It's a similar story with Bumble, which has seen a 35 per cent increase in messages sent since social distancing came into play.
Nothing quite beats the thrill of getting dressed up and experiencing someone in the flesh for that first date, but there are still many perks to dating from the comfort of your own home with the help of your video messaging app of choice.
We caught up with expert dating coach Hayley Quinn to get her top tips for navigating virtual first dates with your lucky swipe-ees.