DEAR MISS MANNERS: A group of six longtime friends planned a get-together at my house including snacks and games. One friend showed up very clearly ill, with a red, runny nose and a pack of tissues, saying, “It’s just a cold! I feel fine.”

Maybe I should have been more sympathetic, but I instead mentioned that I didn’t want to get sick because I had a vacation coming up. I got hand sanitizer and wipes for people to use, and kept my distance. I did ask if they had gotten tested for COVID, and they said no -- now that the tests aren’t free, they are actually quite expensive -- but they assured me they’d had COVID before and that it “didn’t feel like this.”

Two questions: Do you agree that the common cold should be something that keeps people from socializing, and how can I handle this, sho

See Full Page