Son, father visit daily using cellphones, assisted living facility window during coronavirus pandemic

ANOKA, Minn. — One of the most difficult things for some people who are trying their hardest to practice social distancing is having a face-to-face human connection.

That can be even harder for the elderly who crave interactions with their family members, while still trying to protect themselves from COVID-19 or the new coronavirus.

Charlie Johnson stopped by his father’s assisted living home in Anoka, Minnesota, over the weekend.

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But Whispering Pines is on lockdown. Johnson’s father, Bernard Johnson, has a few illnesses and is on oxygen, KARE reported. He, along with other residents, can’t risk being exposed to COVID-19.

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So Charlie Johnson sat on one side of his father’s window, Bernard Johnson sat on the other side of the glass, and the two talked using their phones.

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A nursing assistant at the home saw what was happening and she snapped a photo. Sandy Hamilton asked the father and son if it was OK to post the photo on social media where it went viral, KARE reported.

Hamilton said the Johnsons visit every day.

People have responded well to the photo, Fox News reported.

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Some called the photo a “beautiful” moment, while another called the father and son “awesome,” according to Fox News.