[2006alum]

Question -- how do you get through to people who should understand better but just don't get it? I have a friend, Stanford grad, age 81, recent cancer patient who went through chemo. His girlfriend, with whom he spends a lot of time, in very frail health. Yesterday, he called and urged me to go out to lunch at some new place he wanted to try. I demurred. Today, a repeat of the invite. I'm trying to be polite in how I say no, at the same time making the point that this is really not a good idea. But he seems clueless. Also unable to understand that it's not his own health at rick, but that of others as well.  

Any suggestions??  I did suggest that he take a look at this thread on the Cardboard

I had a bunch of these conversations with older relatives about 1.5-2 weeks ago, all of whom were at least somewhat resistant, even then. One thing I emphasized was that because the virus sheds before people show symptoms (and some people are essentially asymptomatic altogether), anyone could be unknowingly carrying it - your waiter, the person who wiped down the silverware, the person who sat in your chair before you and touched the arms and the table, etc. I explained that the CFR rates for folks in their 70s and 80s were in the teens and that even those who survive often spend weeks in the ICU. Is all of that worth one random meal out?

Instead, offer to facetime him or meet for a walk (if he is well enough to walk a distance) with the two of you keeping a healthy 5-6 foot distance. Although there is some evidence that the virus aerosolizes for up to three hours, it's extremely unlikely to catch hold in open air if you are walking and keeping a distance.

And then tell him if he rainchecks you'll pick up the tab when we're on the other side of the infection curve. 

FWIW, it sometimes took a day or two, but even two weeks ago, my relatives pretty quickly got on board, especially once I started sending them links...

---

Ohio Governor has ordered all bars and restaurants to shut down - clearly people weren't getting the social distancing messaging on their own:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/R_H_Ebright/status/1239282842431078401?s=20[/tweet]

[2006alum]

Question -- how do you get through to people who should understand better but just don't get it? I have a friend, Stanford grad, age 81, recent cancer patient who went through chemo. His girlfriend, with whom he spends a lot of time, in very frail health. Yesterday, he called and urged me to go out to lunch at some new place he wanted to try. I demurred. Today, a repeat of the invite. I'm trying to be polite in how I say no, at the same time making the point that this is really not a good idea. But he seems clueless. Also unable to understand that it's not his own health at rick, but that of others as well.  

Any suggestions??  I did suggest that he take a look at this thread on the Cardboard

I had a bunch of these conversations with older relatives about 1.5-2 weeks ago, all of whom were at least somewhat resistant, even then. One thing I emphasized was that because the virus sheds before people show symptoms (and some people are essentially asymptomatic altogether), anyone could be unknowingly carrying it - your waiter, the person who wiped down the silverware, the person who sat in your chair before you and touched the arms and the table, etc. I explained that the CFR rates for folks in their 70s and 80s were in the teens and that even those who survive often spend weeks in the ICU. Is all of that worth one random meal out?

Instead, offer to facetime him or meet for a walk (if he is well enough to walk a distance) with the two of you keeping a healthy 5-6 foot distance. Although there is some evidence that the virus aerosolizes for up to three hours, it's extremely unlikely to catch hold in open air if you are walking and keeping a distance.

And then tell him if he rainchecks you'll pick up the tab when we're on the other side of the infection curve. 

FWIW, it sometimes took a day or two, but even two weeks ago, my relatives pretty quickly got on board, especially once I started sending them links...

---

Ohio Governor has ordered all bars and restaurants to shut down - clearly people weren't getting the social distancing messaging on their own:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/R_H_Ebright/status/1239282842431078401?s=20[/tweet]