"Immunity, long overdue. Contagion, I exhale you. Naive, I opened up to you. Venom in mania."
– "Fear Inoculum," Tool
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe, it's become paramount to our survival that everyone does their part to remain educated about the disease. As such, many celebrities have recently taken to social media with the interest of sharing facts about the virus, be it from their humble homes or lavish grottoes that look more like a vacation resort than a place someone lives 24/7. With more and more of these types of videos popping up everyday, it was only a matter of time before the stars of Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 virus-outbreak drama CONTAGION – including Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne and Jennifer Ehle – reunited in front of the camera to present their take on the ongoing crisis.
For the multi-part PSA presentation, the aforementioned stars partnered with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health – who just so happened to have been consultants during the making of CONTAGION – in order to establish the #ControltheContagion campaign.
“In the movie I played a guy who was immune to the hypothetical virus that was spreading around the world, so a few things to start: One, that was a movie, this is real life. I have no reason to believe I’m immune to COVID-19,” Damon states in his video. “Neither do you. No matter how young you are. This is a new virus, and it’s going to take some time for our bodies and our doctors to understand the best way to protect us.”
As the video plays on, Damon stresses the importance of social distancing, a practice that keeps everyone at least six-feet away from one another at all times. He also spoke about hand washing, as well as the importance of listening to experts on the subject of COVID-19 vaccines. All scripts read by the actors were written and prepared under the guidance of Columbia’s health experts, including Dr. Larry Brilliant, Mark Smolinski, Laurie Garrett and Dr. W. Ian Lipkin.
You can check out the remaining #ControltheContagion PSA video messeges below:
Naturally, CONTAGION has seen a rise in viewership over the past few weeks. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, and written by Scott Z. Burns, the action-drama revolves around what happens when Healthcare professionals, government officials and everyday people find themselves in the midst of a pandemic as the CDC works to find a cure. Sound familiar? Almost like you're living that exact plot at this very moment?
Be sure to check out publichealth.columbia.edu for more information as to how you can go about controling the contagion. Additionally, the site also hosts each of the above-posted videos in a Spanish-speaking format.
Be safe out there, folks. Stay inside. Order your groceries early and online. Have patience with health care professionals, and be sure to remain entertained throughout your quarantine period.
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