Did I make a mistake asking my host if she was ill with Covid-19?

[Denise1119]

Hello Everyone,

My question is about the responsibility of a host to inform a guest if she might have covid-19. We checked into our air bnb apartment and spent a good amount of time talking with the host and her father at the apartment. I will admit  a few hugs were given which WAS  normal in Latin America and  we had rented the apartment before. I wrote to her with a question. She did not respond for 12 days and then stated that she and her parents were "ill" . Of course, I wished her well. I also asked if it was the covid virus. She did not respond. Did I make a mistake asking my host? Is this rude? We are older and living now in a quarantined foreign country.  It makes me a little upset that she wouldn't respond. Thanks, Denise

[Anonymous]

@Denise1119  I think a lot of people would consider it a breach of etiquette to ask an invasive question about someone's serological status, although the current circumstances have upended a lot of social norms already.

More importantly, self-reporting is not a reliable way to assess the chance that you've been exposed to the virus, especially considering that carriers can pass it on to others without having symptoms. For the safety of yourselves and those around you, you're going to have to get used to assuming that everyone you've encountered in the last few weeks or will in the coming months is potentially infectious - even if they're not sick - and act accordingly.