Xmas eve we have family over for a nice dinner and drinks. Two family members are currently cancer patients and are on chemotherapy that causes immunosuppression. As luck would have it, I am now sneezing/coughing and have a sore throat.
My gf’s father is supposed to wear a mask when he goes outside, but he refuses, saying it is silly. Another family member has been told to avoid crowds.
So, would it help for me to wear a mask? We have discussed cancelling, but the cancer affected relatives won’t hear of it. I offered to go away for the evening (and in fact, this would be nice) but everyone objects. Any other options? I’d hate to end up killing someone this holiday season.
If you’re willing to wear a mask, it would certainly help. I’m not your Doctor, and even if I were, I don’t keep a full bacteria culturing suite in my pocket. And typing the viruses in each sneeze under an electron microscope gets pricy rapidly. But yes, a mask can keep you from spreading an illness. The best thing about it is that you won’t be able to subconsciously touch your mouth and nose with your hands, and that’s really what spreads illness.
If you’re doing the cooking, I’d also suggest disposable gloves, and changing them at breakpoints in your food prep – just like the sandwich guys in the deli. Or at least, what they should do.
If you’ve told them that you’re coming down with something, and they want to come over anyhow, I think you’ve done your primary job.
Secondarily, wash your hands like a crazy person, leave a few bottles of hand sanitizer out and encourage their use. Yes, wearing a mask will reduce the chance that you’ll get your germs on them. (We call it “reverse isolation” in the hospital - if a person with a communicable nasty leaves their room for tests, we have *them *wear a mask.) If you don’t mind **and the people with cancer treatment **don’t mind, then that would be a good thing. HOWEVER, if they don’t want you to wear one, I think you shouldn’t. Even if you’re the one who’s wearing it, they may feel horribly self-conscious, and that’s not a nice thing to do to someone. They’re (presumably) grown, competent adults, and it’s important to respect their decisions about their own health and risks.
If you’re not going to make fat Uncle Albert eat just a salad and diabetic Aunt Judy skip desert, then don’t force good health on these folks, either.
ETA: It might be possible to wear the mask and make it not about them, if you tell everyone you were in the doctor’s office recently and noticed the “If you’re coughing, please ask us for a mask!” sign, and decided to wear a mask so you don’t get anyone else sick… If you can somehow make it sound like you’re caring for *everyone *and not just them in particular, y’know?
