Hi @wkcook, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You ask a good but very difficult question for anyone to answer. This is just my humble opinion - not a doctor, scholar but just an ordinary citizen. I think you first have to consider who you are trying to make understand. Then what are you trying to make them understand - that they can be infected with COVID-19 and pass it on to others. I'm assuming the second is what you want them to understand. Then you have to know their situation -- maybe they are one of the millions that have lost their job and have no income to feed their selves or family, or maybe they are just frustrated, angry and don't understand the risks of protecting themselves and others. You truly ask a profound question that each of us needs to answer for ourselves. I'm a high risk senior citizen and have really taken this seriously for myself and family but the risk is different for each of us.

What will relieve a majority of us is having widespread community testing and that is unfortunately still a work in progress. Here's a recent article from the Mayo Clinic News Network that gives me some hope:

COVID-19 saliva tests: What is the benefit? -- https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-saliva-tests-what-is-the-benefit/

Have you checked out any of the other COVID-19 discussions on Connect? They might help with any other questions you might have and also help give you a break from all the COVID-19 anxiety and news going on.

COVID-19 discussions -- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/covid-19/