Friend not following COVID-19 rules? Here’s when to call it quits 

The pandemic has come to cancel so many things over the last several months and one expert says it’s also time to reevaluate friendships.

Relationship expert Jessica O’Reilly recently joined the hosts of Global News’ The Morning Show to answer some of the most common questions around keeping (or ending) friendships during the coronavirus pandemic.

One question, in particular, O’Reilly says, is when friends choose not to comply with COVID-19 rules.

READ MORE: Coronavirus bubbles grew as economies reopened. Are they still possible?

If a friend isn’t following social distancing rules or is seeing too many people as part of their bubbles, she says communication with this friend is key.

“I think it’s definitely worth speaking up and setting your own boundaries,” O’Reilly said.

Story continues below advertisement

“But you don’t necessarily have to end the whole friendship,” she added. Instead, she advises changing the habitual interaction with your friend by meeting online or outdoors.

READ MORE: Beauty products to fight ‘maskne,’ dry skin and more

Kate Mulligan, an associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, previously told Global News it’s important to remind friends that even if they feel healthy, they must respect social and physical distancing rules to protect vulnerable citizens like seniors, health-care workers and those with weakened immune systems.

To put someone in the spotlight or to use anger as a form of expression toward friends going out isn’t an efficient way to communicate with them, she said.

READ MORE: Infectious disease expert warns how easy it is to burst your social bubble

Mulligan also recommended that individuals should try to share information from reliable sources like government sites and news organizations.

To hear answers to even more questions and concerns about friendships in the pandemic, watch the full video with O’Reilly above. 

© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Lifestyle

Articles You May Like

Liberate Yourself: 5 Reasons to Share Your Truth
The 4B movement: Why some U.S. women are boycotting men after Trump’s win
An Unexpected Lesson on Boundaries and Putting Yourself First
The Truth About Repressing Emotions: Lessons from a Child’s Meltdown
Trauma Lies: Why Survivors Feel Like They’re Bad People

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *