DEAR HARRIETTE: I heard a doctor likening the coronavirus to the AIDS crisis the other day. At first I thought they were crazy; obviously they are very different things. But I listened some more, and what this doctor was saying is that there was a terrible stigma attached to people with AIDS, so much so that people were reluctant to say that they had the disease. Now that same thing seems true for people who have COVID-19. My neighbor, for example, has been deathly ill. I’m pretty sure he has it. But neither he nor his family will talk about it. I think if he does have it, everybody should be more cautious around him. Not to make him a pariah but to protect the rest of us from possibly catching it. Am I wrong to feel that way? How can I be a good neighbor and protect my family from possibly getting infected? -- Avoiding Hysteria

DEAR AVOIDING HYSTERIA: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has talked about how the AIDS crisis and COVID-19 bear some similarities. Both the reach of the diseases and the stigma attached to them can be compared.

You are right to be concerned about your family’s health in relation to your sick neighbor. Follow the precautions as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, especially keeping your distance and keeping your home, door knobs and all surfaces clean. What you shouldn’t do is shun him. Call and ask if he needs anything. If he is isolated at home and ill, check to see if you can bring him food or other supplies that you leave at his door. Be attentive from a distance.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My family rents a house in a beach community every summer. When the pandemic hit, I did not cancel our reservation because I was hoping that things would be opened up by then. Now that summer is almost here, it’s still uncertain whether we can actually get in the water at the beach, but I feel like I should still take my family away. I see reports of people hanging out on the beach in large numbers, but we aren’t going to a place like that. I have young kids, so I can control their activities. I think they need to get outside and have some fun. We live in an apartment in the city. What do you think? -- Going to the Beach

DEAR GOING TO THE BEACH: Check to see what the guidelines are for the community you will be visiting. Some beaches are establishing markers to make it easier for people to practice social distancing while they are outside. I agree that it could be good for your family’s mental health to go to a place where you can enjoy the open air. Just stay vigilant. Don’t let your children out of your sight. Enforce wearing masks whenever they are around other people -- even at the beach. This may be difficult, but if they break the rules, take them inside. That may be punishment enough to get them to keep the masks on the next time you allow them to go outside.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I hate the back-and-forth in the media between the liberal press and the conservative press. I decided to watch both to try to figure out my view on things, but now I am even more confused. Both sides make really strong arguments, even about going outside now that the government is slowly letting up on restrictions.

I can’t decide if I am afraid or ready to throw caution to the wind. I am an asthmatic, but it is controlled. My friends are saying I don’t need to wear a mask since the president doesn’t wear one. They say the people who are wearing masks everywhere are just overdoing it. I’m not sure what to do. I don’t want to be scared all the time. I am a woman of faith. I’m wondering if I am not calling on my faith enough since I am worried about how to go back out into the world. What should I do? -- Unclear

DEAR UNCLEAR: Politics aside, you should listen to the advice from your own doctor and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Starting with your doctor, schedule a telehealth call where you talk about the state of your health and all of your concerns. Ask about what your doctor recommends to protect you as you go out into the public.

The CDC currently recommends covering your face whenever you go outside and even when you are inside if you suspect that someone in your home may be ill. Doing that is not being overly cautious. It is being smart. The guidelines suggest that you should also continue to stay at least 6 feet away from others, even close friends. Allow your faith to lead you to the scientific facts that can help to save your life. Don’t get swayed by the news of either political party. For more information visit: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just got a contract for a project that should last until the end of the year. I am so excited and relieved. I have worked primarily as what is now called a “gig worker.” With the shutdown, my work basically disappeared. While this job doesn’t pay much, it’s way better than scrambling for unemployment, and I get a paycheck every two weeks. When I talked to my husband about it, all he could do is say how I should be making more money for what I am doing for these people. We are struggling, and this job is putting food on our table. Why can’t he be happy for me and for our family? What can I say to him to get him to see the big picture? I should add that he is lucky. He has the same job that he’s had for 20 years, and so far nobody is getting laid off. We are lucky for that, too. -- Need More Support

DEAR NEED MORE SUPPORT: Remind your husband how fortunate you are to have his consistent job -- and how grateful you are for the project you just got. Acknowledge that more money might be nice, but what you are bringing home is consistent and helpful to your family’s bottom line. Tell him you need him to have your back and to stop complaining. Point out all of the blessings in your life, and name this job as one of them.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am almost 30 years old, and I am having a baby. My partner and I are in a good relationship. Even though we didn’t plan to get pregnant, we are figuring it out together. I’m not going to lie, though: It’s a lot to think about and manage.

We are still early in our careers trying to get things going, and we both lost our jobs in the shutdown. He recently started a new job, and I should be back to work soon, although I will have to take off to take care of the baby for a while. Everybody is in my ear telling me what I should and should not do in terms of getting ready for the baby. I want to make decisions with my man. He wants that, too, but there always seems to be somebody else telling us their opinion. How can I keep the bond strong with my man? We aren’t married, but we are committed to each other. I don’t want other people to get in the way of us growing closer as we bring a child into the world. -- Baby Makes Family

DEAR BABY MAKES FAMILY: Now is a perfect time for you to establish boundaries around your growing family. You and your boyfriend need to form the strongest bond possible so that you value and honor what’s happening in your life. By putting each other and your child first, you can figure out how to prioritize everything else.

Establish a weekly family meeting where you talk about what your plans are short-term and long-term. What do you need to take care of the baby? How will you manage your time when the baby comes? Talk about everything from values to child care. Pivoting from being a couple in love to a couple having a baby is a huge shift. Work together on defining what that means. If you are on the same page, it will make it easier to stay there when you talk to other people.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I are close to another couple. We are almost like the Honeymooners. We spend a lot of time together, but we also compete with each other a little bit. Both couples have big anniversaries coming up. We had been planning individual blow-out parties. Now that we can’t get together with lots of people, the steam has fizzled from our healthy competition. We have continued to see each other, and we have kind of quarantined together. I was thinking maybe we should celebrate our anniversaries together, just the four of us. I know that’s not the same as lavish parties, but I’m trying to be realistic. What do you think? -- Dashed Hopes

DEAR DASHED HOPES: The idea of a shared party is nice, but it doesn’t have to be just the four of you. Since these are big anniversary years, think big. So many people are hosting Zoom parties -- or parties using other video technology -- you can, too! You can plan an event with your friends from far and wide. Recommend what they prepare to eat and drink. Schedule a champagne toast at a particular time, speeches -- the works. By joining forces, the prep can be fun, and your friends everywhere will appreciate the effort.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)