That was exactly how I felt. And the replay of the what if's in their minds will be so painful.

The first thing I did was call two of my friends and a nephew who have made excuses  urging them to call their doctors and discuss it. It was the only way I could try to get something good out of this. 

Did they listen?

No, they told me that there was so much conflicting information they hear, they don't know who to believe. 

It's really sad when anyone lacks the critical ability to discern.  This is a sign of the times.

If they are still listening, tell them to avoid the internet and talk to a doctor.

That's exactly what I did. But it's also some of the other friends who pressure them. Earlier this year I got a desperate call from a long term friend perplexed about the "myth" the "fake covid  scam" was causing , after trying to engage in a reasonable discourse over his claims, I will say with 100% accuracy that he will never talk to me again for the rest of our lives. Even cousins which I have been a supporting part of the family  now alienated.  

Just as a virus spreads in proportion to the number of infected people, so does misinformation. Social media has the equivalent potential to magnify it as does a super spreader event.

And then you have elected officials helping that misinformation along.

Yeah, a real mess isn't it?