COVID-19 Concerns: How do you help others understand?

@wkcook, I am frustrated and bewildered like you and really don't have a response that might "get through to those" who are blithely going about their lives "as before" and who believe statistics are skewed. My response to the many who express these views to me is that I am very compromised health wise; I'd much rather err on the side of caution; I fear a more severe backlash of a 2nd, 3rd wave of the pandemic because so many are not heeding national, state and local guidelines. I can only be responsible for my own actions and decisions but I fear for our nation in the rush to reopen and restart on all fronts.

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/

I would also like to know this. Smaller communities just go about there lives not caring about the next person. I am struggling because I am older and need to be careful. They say we have to build up herd community. I can't afford to be out there doing that. I would like to know an answers as well. Thank you.

This truly is a near impossible question to answer. I completely agree with @johnbishop. When trying to explain the concerns about COVID-19 to someone, even family, it is first important to understand why they may be resisting protective restrictions and evidence published by trusted medical sources. Even facts may not resonate when people are suffering due to financial concerns or they don't (yet) know anyone who has had the virus.

This article from Psychology Today sheds some light:
- Why Aren't Some People Taking COVID-19 More Seriously? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/202003/why-arent-some-people-taking-covid-19-more-seriously

In the article, Cathy Cassata explains “optimism bias,” which is a general tendency that we all have whereby we tend to underestimate personal risks. It worth a read.

The WHO recommends when talking with others, stick to the facts. Even that can be a challenge because facts are changing every day, not to mention rumors and opinions that get mixed in with facts. Here's a tip sheet from the World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/covid19-stigma-guide.pdf
Stigma is a real issue. We shouldn't say it's young people or people in urban centers or rural communities or this or that group of people who are causing the problem. There are many people practicing good safety hygiene and there are people breaking and bending the rules everywhere.

Mayo Clinic is following COVID-19 very closely and publishing up-to-date information about COVID-19 at Mayo Clinic News Network. Follow this page for reliable information that support your efforts to stay safe, stay healthy and to discuss your concerns with others. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/covid-19/

@wkcook Welcome to connect . I hear you . I get upset as well . But the old say is you can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink. applies here . Even in my own building where I live we have people that ignore what our property manager ask of people signs up everywhere but some just wont do it . Im sorry your loved ones dont believe what the CDC says but all you and any of us can do is take care of ourselves and pray for the other people that they dont catch it . It has even broken up friendships here . Sad

I pray for everyone affected every night. Thank You!

I also am in a high risk group. I fear for my Wife, a Postal Carrier, because she still has to go to work. We continue to the best we can to protect ourselves. Thank You for the response. Take care.

Thank You, John, for your reply. I have been reading posts on "Connect"...It is hard though. I suffer from anxiety & PTSD. It is very difficult at times to read the stories at times. I try to take it in small doses. Thank You, again.

Facts are difficult to pin down...Even for me. It takes an extended period of time and lots of data before the reliability of statistics to emerge. But, to me, it looks like even the best estimates don't look too good. I just don't understand how people can look at it and NOT see that.

I will check out these links you provided. Thank you for getting back with me. I don't know why I didn't think to check the Mayo Clinic site before today. I spent 2-3 weeks there due to Gulf War Illness and it was a great experience.

Thanks Again and Have a Great Day

@colleenyoung, Thank you for sharing these thought provoking links with us. Not only the first Psychology Today article but those listed under the first provided new insights for me. The Do's & Don't's and the Words Matter sections of the stigma guide link helped too.