As we approach the one year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to take a step back and examine the responses we’ve seen to it. Some people have changed their lives drastically in order to keep themselves and others safe while some have done little to adapt to things such as mask mandates and social distancing orders. This can create an awkward and potentially dangerous situation for people who are high risk, live with someone who is a high risk, or are simply unable to go weeks without working. Here are some helpful tips for cutting off those COVID-19 unsafe friends of yours – without being too mean!
- Explain why you feel unsafe around them
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Be polite but to the point. Give examples of the COVID-19 unsafe things they may do, such as not wearing a mask properly or attending large gatherings/parties. Explain the risks you face when they partake in these actions as well as how you feel when they disregard life-saving measures. In some situations, a simple talk like this is enough to make your friend(s) recognize the seriousness of their actions, encouraging change. For more stubborn friends, you may have to take it a step further.
- Give them the hard truth
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Tell them how serious this truly is. In some cases, people may simply not understand how pressing of an issue COVID-19 is. Some may think it is no longer a problem simply because they have disconnected from the news (unlikely, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt) and a wake-up call in the form of death rates may be what it takes to help them understand. If your friend(s) believe life should simply “go back to normal,” explain to them that “normal” can never happen until everyone does their part and works to decrease the spread of COVID-19. If this still doesn’t work, you’ll have to resort to the third and final option: cut them off!
- Tell them you do not want to interact with them
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Tell your friend(s) that you do not feel safe around them and would rather not interact with them. Explain that their actions directly affect your safety and livelihood and if they wish to continue participating in COVID-19 unsafe events, they should not expect to have you around. This can be very, very hard as losing friends always is. At the end of the day though, COVID-19 has shown some people’s true colors. If someone cannot sacrifice a college party to potentially save someone’s life, I believe it’s best to move on and find better friends. Selfishness is never a good thing, especially during a global pandemic. If a person cannot be selfless now, it’s safe to say they will continue to put themselves over everyone no matter the situation.
Cutting off friends is not easy. You may look back and regret it at some points; I’ve felt the same way. It can be extremely hard and feel silly, but at the end of the day, I feel much better knowing that I am actively working to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives. If COVID-19 has taught me anything, it’s that I’m not alone. There are so many people out there doing the same thing as me: staying home from college and not seeing friends. I am not alone and you aren’t either! Prioritize your health and the health of others and I promise you’ll find people who do the same :)