While countries including France, Spain and Italy move aggressively to slow down the progression of the coronavirus pandemic, or flattening the curve as officials are saying, the United States is moving at iceberg speed.
Despite Donald Trump’s proclamation that “everything is running smoothly” and that they have everything under control, many members of government have come forward to call Trump out for his lack of poor management.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richal Shelby has stated, “It seems to me at the outset that this request for the money, the supplemental, is lowballing it, possibly, and you can’t afford to do that. If you lowball something like this, you’ll pay for it later.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has gone on to denounce the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak as, “absurd and nonsensical.” And for those living in New York City, the closing down of restaurants, movies, gyms, and the limit of how many people can be gathered in one space has largely been implemented on a state-wide level, not a Federal level.
So, without any efficient management from the Trump administration, celebrities have taken to social media to use their influence to persuade their fans to maintain social distancing and proper hygiene using hashtags such as #flattenthecurve, #stayhomesavelives and #shutdownnyc.
Obama has gone on Twitter to explain, through graphs, the effects of social distancing and why it’s so essential.
While Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken a cuter approach to spreading factual information.
And then there’s Ariana Grande who went with… well, a blunter approach.
While comedian Mel Brooks and zombie writing son Max Brooks encourage us to #don’tbeaspeader
But whatever message resonates with you, remember that it’s better to be over cautious than “low balling.” Maintain social distancing, or remain inside at all times, wash your hands, and please, keep in touch with your elderly relatives or friends.