The Sacramento Bee - For more than a year now, many Californians have gone without the ability to hug their loved ones due to the risk of COVID-19 exposure. Over the past year, many people had to make do with phone calls, or Zoom meetings, or other remote methods of keeping in touch without actually touching.
Michael Murphy, a research assistant professor at Texas Tech University, said social isolation takes a toll on the human body. He pointed to a wealth of scientific data showing what lack of human contact can do to a person.