Few years back, a friend's mother passed away while she was at uni. Her family was arranging for her to go back home immediately but they did not tell her what actually happened because they were afraid of what might happen on her way. /1

2/ We were together when she found out on the day of her trip back home. She was scrolling through Facebook and some "concerned family member" had posted a picture of her mother.

I can't begin to explain the shock and grief she went through as I held her.

3/People are not supposed to find out about deaths of family members from social media or from strangers.

In the coming days, when the deaths due to covid-19 begin to mount, I ask you all to exercise caution and respect the privacy of the family of the deceased.

4/ We will mourn them all. But it is disrespectful to invade the privacy of a family who has already suffered the death of a beloved family member by sharing pictures or names.