We’ve reached the three-week mark of South Africa’s five-week lockdown in an attempt to flatten the curve and stop the Covid-19 disease from overwhelming our health systems. For a lot of us being indoors all day has been quite the adjustment and it not only affected our daily living but also how we carry out our relationships. We’re all wanting to experience love in these trying times.
Regardless of what your relationship status is, it’s a fair assumption that the coronavirus has made an impact on your love-life. Married couples are learning how to be around one another all the time, some couples have been inadvertently placed in a long-distance relationship and singles are finally trying their hand at online dating apps and virtual dates over Zoom.
It makes sense that we would now, more than ever, crave connection. Especially since it has been more or less banned. South African Police Minister Bheki Cele is on record for telling the country that not even the kissing of loved ones should be permitted. Minister Cele’s sentiments aside, people are still longing for romantic connection especially during these uncertain and almost apocalyptic times.
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The popular dating app, Tinder, recorded 3 billion ‘swipes’ on March 29, 2020. This is the highest number of recorded swipes for a single day in the app’s history.
But, behind the stats are the stories of real people too. Some are tales to warm your heart and other are sadly amusing. Read on to find out more…
A New York style fairytale
Photographer Jeremy Cohen wasn’t going to let quarantine-life ruin his chances of finding love. While sitting on his balcony one day, he spotted a woman dancing on her rooftop. In the most modern way possible, he taped his phone number to a drone and flew the drone over to her.
They then started chatting over text messages and had dinner together while on FaceTime…
It’s impossibly cute and Jeremy and Tori have the internet cheering on their quarantine romance.
A South African bridle couple get arrested
In a different turn of events, we doubt this bride ever envisioned her special day to turn out like this…
The bride, groom and their 40 wedding guests were all arrested for disobeying the lockdown rules. The South African police are not taking contravention lightly and have, to date, already arrested over 3 000 people for breaking the rules. Some things simply aren’t worth doing, even in the name of love.
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Couple from Madrid recover successfully from the coronavirus
In the Instagram post below, Josè and his wife Guadalupe wave to their neighbours as they both return home from hospital. The couple have been married for 65 years and were happy to be safely back in their home. Their smiling faces are sure to bring warmth to your heart.
British couple host a virtual wedding in their living room
Yes, that’s right. The couple who had their special day planned were forced to cancel their day amidst worldwide lockdown protocols. They decided to continue with their wedding and host a virtual ceremony with the officiant on a Zoom call making everything aboveboard and legal. After the formalities they celebrated with a virtual party where friends and family joined in over video calls.
Tiny love stories
We love this initiative by the New York Times podcast ‘Modern Love’. They feature love stories that have been born from the unique lockdown situation we all find ourselves in. Reading through the stories you will be moved from feelings of empathy, to sadness and joy- representative of the human experience. Each love story is less than 100 words long, and you could even submit your own story.
Do you have a quarantine love story to share with us? We’d love to hear about it…
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By Features Writer Andrea Cresswell
