What should my friend do .

Her

Cant they met in the garden? Or outside somewhere else?

Mask, thick coat and use of a brolli is a better option than missing out on a visit with family, in my book! .

I think her family are right to be concerned but if I were a member of her family I'd go and visit her if that's what she wanted in spite of the risks. Actual human contact is important.

Carers are in and out of people's homes all the time and then going home to their families other members of which work elsewhere and who have kids in school. All this with no transmission of the virus if care is taken and no visits done by anyone with even the slightest symptom. Yes, I know about asymptomatic cases.

Just for perspective, the other day MrB told me he'd been looking at statistical info showing that deaths from Covid are twenty-fourth in a list of what people are dying of right now. In other words there are twenty-three other illnesses that more people are dying of than of Covid.

Hmmm. My daughter was in a group of 6 with a friend on our street (no family nearby). The friend's daughter brought it home from nursery (parents working from home), infected all of them AND my daughter and grandson. Fortunately, everyone got through it safely. BUT, if I had been at home, it would probably have been a different story since I have several risk factors.

There will be many more, too, not from COVID but because people are not having examinations, diagnoses, surgery or treatment, so as a consequence of the virus.

I'm not sure the comparison with carers is valid. They attend people because the care us necessary, whereas seeing your family for a bit of company is a very different thing.

Human contact is important but we know that people can survive for very long periods of time without face to face contact. And remain mentally well. Nelson Mandela and Terry Waite spring to mind.

I think the stress of meeting up and then everybody having to wonder if an infection has happened, is more damaging. And actually passing on the virus? How good for the families mental health would that be.

The Ops friend is in a high risk area. Why take the risk?

Thank you for your views yes I think I agree with GagaJo and Illte . she lives near enough to have a stroll and call into their garden for a chat weather permitting it’s what she as been during lockdown so I told her to continue to do that better to be safe and at least she is seeing them face to face at a safe distance....

Just for perspective, the other day MrB told me he'd been looking at statistical info showing that deaths from Covid are twenty-fourth in a list of what people are dying of right now. In other words there are twenty-three other illnesses that more people are dying of than of Covid.

That's false logic. It's true that far more people are dying from cancer and heart disease (and other reasons), but the risk of dying from either isn't suddenly increased by being in contact with people who are infected with Covid-19.

Callistemon

There will be many more, too, not from COVID but because people are not having examinations, diagnoses, surgery or treatment, so as a consequence of the virus.

But ignoring Covid precautions will increase the number of people infected and put even more strain on the NHS, so people needing tests or surgery are even less likely to be treated.

agree with Illte.
why take unnecessary risks.
they can telephone every day, no need to be isolated.