A family situation isn't adding

It definitely does sound like a weird situation without knowing their reasoning, but I'm sure there are plenty of valid reasons. Does your relative have a history of struggling with germs/hygiene anxiety? I do, and while I'm just starting to get over my anxiety enough to go out and mix with people socially again, and was mixing with people at my volunteering work throughout the lockdowns, my house is still my safe controlled space that I can come home to and keep as clean as I want, because I know exactly what has been touched before cleaning my hands and changing clothes. If I let people come into my house, it takes that safe space away from me and I'd never be able to feel clean enough, and our water bill would not thank me for having to shower that much It's definitely going to be a while before I relearn the coping mechanisms I had pre-pandemic and am able to have people in my house again! (Obviously this may have nothing to do with your relative's reasoning, I just thought it best to give an example of the kind of thing that could cause their decision other than just avoiding people )