Weekly/fortnightly date for low risk singles and non cohabiting couples

Søren Brostrøm, The Director General of the Danish Health Authority, stated the importance of physical intimacy to human health saying that social distancing measures shouldn't inhibit single people from dating.

Single people in low risk groups and couples who don't live together could meet up with a partner/prospective partner/friend for a date once a week provided that:

(1) They each live in a small household themselves (2 adults, 3 if the other two adults are a couple) and;
(2) All people in both households are a low risk group.

The government should prepare guidance which is inclusive of heteronormative and LGBT+ relationships and includes authoritative sources of information on sexual health and relationship support. It should also contain advice on online and personal safety for someone meeting a new partner for the first time (such as meeting in a public place during daytime).

This guidance and messaging should then be given to dating app providers to notify users in Scotland.

Why the contribution is important

Single people and non cohabiting couples have suffered from a lack of physical intimacy during lockdown, not enjoying the closeness that cohabiting couples haven't lost during lockdown.

Many single people are relatively young, in low risk groups and provided they are not living in a large household with lots of other single people, there hopefully won't be much effect on the r number.

It would also boost the mental health and wellbeing of the population, particularly single people who may be otherwise expected to risk their health for economic reasons whilst prohibited from meeting their needs by developing new relationships outwith an online environment.

Dating is a large part of many people's social lives and new/pre-pandemic relationships may be at risk if only done virtually for months without even a hug.

If new relationships are stunted by extended physical distancing measures, this could have a severe negative impact on the planned birth rate in the next five years post lockdown as milestones in relationships could be delayed.


by McIdea on May 06, 2020 at 12:41PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.6
Based on: 12 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Asterix123 May 06, 2020 at 13:32

    It would be better to follow the Danish lead and approve low risk non-cohabiting partners meeting.
  • Posted by Jayli May 06, 2020 at 13:34

    As a single 50 something living rurally, with a boyfriend who lives 60 miles away and also rurally, lockdown has meant that neither I or my boyfriend has had any human contact other than through video call or when at a supermarket, queuing with strangers.

    Being able to see each other in either his or my home would be a huge boost to both our mental health. We both understand the need for lockdown and have followed the rules strictly, but the longer this goes on the harder mentally it is to be on your own day in day out - I don't even pass people to say hello to when I go my daily walk, and cows and sheep don't talk back!

    Some kind of consideration for single people who live alone but are in a relationship would be appreciated. The lack of any form of contact at all is very, very difficult.
  • Posted by Farkysmum May 06, 2020 at 13:39

    It certainly would .
  • Posted by Chrisharris641 May 06, 2020 at 13:46

    Have given this 4 stars - while I agree with the idea fully, I would argue that it should go a little further - perhaps allowing the linking of households where members of those households are in a relationship, within reason (limited to households with, say, no more than 4 inhabitants, all under 60 and with no relevant underlying conditions) in order that couples could spend time together in the privacy and protection of their own homes - this is particularly relevant for groups such as the LGBTQ+ community, many of whom are still targeted simply for expressing themselves or their relationship in public.
  • Posted by u115118 May 06, 2020 at 14:04

    This is the SG, not Tinder. And yes, I live on my own etc, but I can wait until after the crisis passes for 'intimacy' . Not worth the risk.
  • Posted by borisj May 06, 2020 at 14:36

    It would be better to follow the examples of the countries that have got rid of the virus and practice social isolation. If we had done this early in the outbreak we would be well into lifting restrictive measures by now.
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