Serology tests, commonly known as COVID-19 antibody tests, are meant for those who suspect of having the virus. Nevertheless, singles are seeing them as a green-light to score a date in the middle of a pandemic.
By Ana Salazar
Photo by Milos Prelevic
Dating app users are boasting about their positive test results. Going as far as adding them to their pictures or joking about them on their bios.
These tests are relatively new, so its results shouldn’t guarantee an entry back into the world of casual sex. Mostly because these can’t show if one has been exposed to the virus. Antibodies can take up to two weeks to fully develop after exposure. Making negative test results highly misleading.
But, aside from those factors, how could you know if your match is lying?
Online “cat-fishing” is not a novelty. It’s been around since the rise of social media. But, what many forget is that this practice is not exclusive to picture theft. For years, cat-fishers have resorted to lying in order to cover-up relationships, STIs, and most recently, COVID-19.
A lack of romantic interaction, casual or serious, has created a phenomenon that’s allowed many to resort to a serology test. This also means that others have resorted to screenshots of those. All in hopes of fulfilling their craving.
Loneliness has been an ongoing theme amidst social-distancing. Further proving how physical interaction is not just a preference but a necessity.
Earlier this month, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), advised singles to find a “sex buddy” to spend lockdown with. Stating how single people should make arrangements with like-minded individuals to satisfy their need for affection. All while being safe and considerate of others.
In the United States, singles have not exactly gotten sex-friendly, government-approved protocol. Leaving many, rightfully, frustrated.
Although The New York City Health Department released safe-sex guidelines earlier this Spring. They all indicated how the safest sexual partners were those living in your household.
Several companies have gone out of their way to encourage singles to maintain a sex-less lifestyle during this time. Such as PornHub’s free premium feature. But, with recent state openings, many are left to think that their social lives are, once again, normal.
This, of course, is not the case.
Dating app users should be aware of their and their matches’ weekly routines. Some have gone back to work and are interacting with their coworkers and everyone who they might cross paths with during their shifts. Not to mention, they are going to the grocery store, the gas station, and even their friends’ or family members’ homes.
Several states such as Alabama and Texas have recently allowed on-property consumption at bars and restaurants under specific guidelines. As well as the re-openings of gyms and cosmetic salons. Making it impossible to pinpoint where your love-interests have been.
So, what should you do if you’re single and looking for sex?
The smartest answer to that is to wait things out. Turning to safe-sex practices such as masturbation, sexting, or FaceTime sex are all great alternatives.
There’s a possibility that your matches aren’t lying and that their test results are genuine. Unfortunately, there’s no way to uncover the truth. If you choose to have sex with someone new, be mindful of others. Communicate with your partner about setting boundaries. Avoid seeing other people besides them, and quarantine if you suspect you or them have been exposed to the virus.
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