'Behind the Blue': Tony Love Discusses Loneliness in the Time of Social Distancing
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 24, 2020) — Beginning Aug. 3 and running through Aug. 22, University of Kentucky offered COVID-19 testing on campus for its approximately 30,000 students — undergraduate, graduate and professional — at no cost to students. The idea was to create a baseline for university officials as plans are implemented for ongoing daily screening, contact tracing and other health measures.
In addition, students moving into residence halls on campus are being provided ‘health kits’, containing digital thermometers, sanitizers, masks and other items, in an effort to promote healthy behavior to reduce transmission of the virus and flatten the curve. This behavior includes washing hands, sanitizing common surfaces, and maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others … otherwise known as “social distancing.”
It’s that concept of distancing that is the focus of this episode of "Behind the Blue." While physically distancing from each other is part of the desired behavior health officials have been urging in order to combat this pandemic, humans have basic needs for emotional and social connection, and members of our society are being asked to do what we aren’t always well-equipped to do in the face of a crisis — nothing. On this week’s podcast, Tony Love, an assistant professor of sociology in the UK College of Arts and Sciences, will be talking about the importance of staying socially connected — even during times when we cannot be physically together.
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