We're a high risk family and still under lockdown. We're looking for a plumber fix some pipes under the sink and install a new dishwasher.

If you are under lockdown, the plumber is not allowed to come and do that.

If you are "only" high risk, you can ask them to send one who is willing to wear a mask at all times while in your flat and to keep his distance. The latter you will have to do yourself by staying out of the rooms he needs to enter.

To add to Curley's excellent post:

When you make the appointment mention that you can provide the plumber with a mask.

He/she probably will have masks of his or her own, but offering to provide them yourself is a sensible approach.

You misunderstand. Lockdown is not quarantine. High-risk means I don't want someone in my house that doesn't take covid-19 seriously because I am already disabled and this is frankly the limit of what I can do. I'm hoping to find a high risk plumber who is taking things seriously. Not someone who only wears a mask when forced to. They can enter the kitchen via the garden door so there's no direct contact for their safety as well.

If such a person doesn't exist, then so be it.

I don't think that'll you be able to get a specific recomendation. I would suggest you contact plumbers in your area and explain how the visit will need to work on the telephone...

1. You are high risk.
2. They'll have to enter via the garden and wear a mask etc....
3. If they have any questions while they are there, you'll have to telephone about them, even if you are home.

As you discuss this, you'll know right away from the telephone call if they are willing to follow your instructions or not. If they aren't, just end the call politely.

We have three locally, and I'll give them a call today since I have the time. It's such a pity that our go-to plumber isn't wearing masks because we really liked his solutions in the past to avoid major works before a planned reno.

Has he totally refused, even after your explanation of the reasoning? That's sad he'd rather give up business than wear a mask, but I guess it's his choice.

Our impression was that he's not scared of corona... sigh... Poor man, he's not exactly young himself.

You can also look at this positively. Already with the phone call, you have a strong feeling that he isn't the right plumber for you in this current situation. Much better to find this out now, rather than after he is in the middle of your house/appartment.

I would be curious how things go with the others. Let us know if you find someone who is willing to do the job according to your requirements.

Ironically, we have a family emergency and now have to put this off for a week or two. I can DM you the contact info if you'd like (in case everything goes smoothly). We're in the Horgen area.

Blue collar workers are so well paid here and have so much workthat they don't give a tot about loosing a job. Especially if you force somebody to wear a mask during manual job

I guess it's more the fact that there is a very worried client, telling them he's high risk and about all the special precautions to be taken that they rather not take a risk to be blamed after.
So yes, as long as they are not starving they will turn down such a job. And I don't even blame them.

I'm sure it was not the mask-wearing-part.

Huh, ironic, since he's been sending emails since March saying he can still work despite lockdowns. Our impression was that his business has dropped significantly.