As we all have different ways of coping with anxiety, it is good to be clear about what your friend may want. Not everyone wants straightforward advice, some will feel better with just a chat where the pandemic or the politics behind it isn’t discussed.
If our friend finds a good, empathetic listener in you, their anxiety levels will drop, and could also make you feel better as a bonus.
It’s good to listen to yourself and what your mind and body needs. One does not have to dismiss their own anxiety in the process.