That meant dinner dates on Zoom, and FaceTiming men I matched with on apps, replacing the more friendly bottle of red and candlelit meal for two. Grinning awkwardly at the blurry faces staring back at me across a computer screen was borderline depressing. We exhausted each other’s list of favourite films, found out who preferred to holiday in Spain rather than Greece – but it was so difficult to tell if we actually fancied each other.

Thankfully, the vaccination programme was a game changer. Last March, as spring was sprung I got myself jabbed, ditched my uniform of tracksuit bottoms and started running around the park in dayglo sportswear to banish the corona stone.

Then came a meal outside at an actual restaurant for the first time in months with a handsome date; I felt giddy. We swapped amusing anecdotes about whether we were Astra or Pfizer, and if we’d risk flying again with the red list. Champagne corks popped, midlife inhibitions were flung to the wind and during that wonderful summer of singleton love, I really thought it was the beginning of the end game.

Then just as I was getting used to whipping out my Covid vaccine pass to start hooking up with people properly, along came the omicron variant.

And now its shadow is fast dominating the festive season. It’s not just the social cancellations that are getting me down, but a whole raft of new regulations and mixed messages. Work from home is back, as are masks indoors, apart from bars and restaurants. For now.

But one thing has changed: hopeful daters like me are now vaxxed and boostered, so courting at some physical level is possible. Although I won’t be bringing my Dettol gun or Latex gloves on a date, I have given thought to some new omicron rules for potential lovers – I am determined to keep calm and carry on kissing. So should you be. Here’s how we can do it:

How to date in omicron times

Check for alignment of vaccination status

It may not be the most romantic pre-date sweet talk, but checking you are on the same page vaccination and booster-wise is key. It could indicate compatibility in so many other areas, too, and acts as a good filter.

Find out if you are Covid compatible

Pre-corona, we would choose our dates for their sparkling wit; now, it is a case of finding out first whether they are anti-maskers or pro-Covid passports. If you are masking up even outside, then dinner with someone who thinks compulsory mask-wearing is a breach of our human rights is going to be a miserable experience.

Walks are back in – small intimate restaurants are out

It may be December and six degrees outside, but with a new variant lurking in all those nooks and crannies, masks back on faces, it is time to embrace the outdoors once again. Besides, there is something thrilling about feeling a warm glow of fledgling romance as you huddle together on a bench with a hot toddy and a piece of supermarket Christmas cake.

Hugging etiquette

It may feel all warm and cosy to hug your date, especially when you live alone. But for the time being at least it is dating good manners to ask first. If you do find yourself on a date with a serial hugger who thinks nothing of flinging their arms around you, your neighbour or any passer by, you might want to wear a thick coat to prevent them getting too near.

Flirting facts

If you decide to meet and you are still nervous about getting too close, pulling out a measuring tape is not the most romantic of behaviours. The best way is simply to tell your date you are politely elbow bumping for the time being, and could they keep their viral load to themselves.

We may not know just how risky the new omicron is, but if you want to break the ice, ask them when they last had a first-date kiss. And add you’ve had all your shots. Want to take it to the next level? Ask them to share their vaccination stories back at yours.