Back in 2011, Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Laurence Fishbourne all starred in the fictional movie Contagion, about a killer virus that spreads around the world.
Fast forward almost a decade and that movie is on high rotation again, thanks to the current coronavirus pandemic. So the actors have created a series of public service announcements to help share accurate information about the virus and dispel misinformation.
“That was a movie. This is real life,” Matt says in a video about social distancing made with the help of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
“You can literally sit on your sofa or chair and save a life….Now is the time to spend all the time you want staring at your phone or tablet, and if anyone gives you a hard time about it, tell them not to bother you because you’re saving lives,” he continues.
You’ve seen it everywhere, but there’s a reason. Contagion star Matt Damon explains why #SocialDistancing is the most critical thing you can do right now. Then head to https://t.co/sUXphD602y to find out more. #ControlTheContagion #publichealth #ColumbiaSPH pic.twitter.com/3pHHbdfuOc
— ColumbiaPublicHealth (@ColumbiaMSPH) March 27, 2020
Kate Winslet’s video focuses on the importance of washing your hands “like your life depends on it” while Laurence Fishbourne wants us to know that this really is moving fast and most people will know someone affected by the virus in the coming weeks.
The virus in Contagion was fictional, but #COVID19 is real. Contagion star Laurence Fishburne explains what he learned from his role in the movie, and why #socialdistancing is the most critical thing we can do to #ControlTheContagion. Head to https://t.co/sUXphD602y for more. pic.twitter.com/5S0OCnm0x0
— ColumbiaPublicHealth (@ColumbiaMSPH) March 27, 2020
Actresses Marion Cotillard and Jennifer Ehle also take part in the PSAs:
Vaccines take time, but they are what is going to solve #COVID19. Hear from Contagion star Jennifer Ehle on how we can help our health professionals and scientists #ControlTheContagion. Then head to https://t.co/sUXphD602y for more. #publichealth #ColumbiaSPH pic.twitter.com/jTBggD22pH
— ColumbiaPublicHealth (@ColumbiaMSPH) March 27, 2020
