King Henry VI of England banned kissing in 1439 to battle the plague. As the world confronts the coronavirus spreading from China, some health authorities are again urging people to refrain from physical displays of affection.
Epidemiologists say limiting contact could help slow the march of COVID-19, a disease that's turned up in dozens of countries in just two months and killed more than 3,000 people. Americans ought to think twice about bro hugs and high fives, they say, while the French and Italians might want to reconsider their traditional pecks on the cheek.
"If coronavirus is circulating in your community, it's a very prudent thing to do," said Michael Osterholm, an expert on infectious diseases at the University of Minnesota. "It's one of the few things you can do yourself to actively reduce your risk."