Photo shows doctor embracing a 'vulnerable,' 'lonely' COVID-19 patient on Thanksgiving - USA TODAY

Joseph Varon often gets close to COVID-19 patients, but the hug on Thanksgiving was a unique and moving moment.

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Joseph Varon hugs and comforts a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) during Thanksgiving at the United Memorial Medical Center on November 26 in Houston, Texas. (Photo: Go Nakamura, Getty Images).

Photographer Go Nakamura has visited a COVID-19 intensive care unit in Houston about 20 times, but he never gets used to what he sees there.

Varon often gets close to patients, in Nakamura's experience.

But based on his experience at the United Memorial Medical Center, he's sure they were kind and comforting

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