The psychological distress caused by COVID-19 has caused many people in isolation to rely on friends, family, online communities, and brands for a sense of normality. Canvas8 spoke to Xi Tian, a researcher at Penn State University, to understand what’s required for effective emotional support.

Whether it’s living vicariously through Normal People or counting down the days until a physical reunion, COVID-19 has forced us into a no-touch climate and we’re mourning the lack of skin-to-skin contact. Canvas8 spoke to three experts to explore what a post-touch world could look like.

The lockdown measures introduced to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have kept people confined with certain loved ones for months while preventing them from seeing others. Canvas8 spoke to 17 Britons and Americans to find out how this period of self-isolation has impacted their relationships.

Sales of sex toys have jumped as the COVID-19 outbreak sees people bunker down for extended periods of self-isolation in their homes. The effects of social distancing may have a long-lasting effect on intimacy as individuals become more self-reliant to overcome loneliness and boredom.