Ariana Grande, Caroline Polachek, more, urge fans to practice social distancing
In the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus panic, pop stars including Caroline Polachek — who believes she has the virus — Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande are asking their fans to heed self-isolation recommendations.
VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images / David Livingston/Getty Images
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, many artists, including Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Caroline Polachek and Taylor Swift, have taken to social media to encourage their fans to practice social distancing and stop congregating in groups. These frantic and emotive posts come after a week of mass panic over the novel coronavirus currently spreading throughout the United States and the world at an exponential rate.
Caroline Polachek, the former Chairlift singer who released her debut solo record Pang last year, took to Instagram to announce that she fears she may have contracted the coronavirus and has been bedridden with symptoms including fever, fatigue, and dizziness the past couple of days. Speaking directly to camera about her lessening symptoms, Polachek told her fans: “Day two hasn’t been as bad as day one, it’s been fever and headaches still, but kinda keeping it at bay with paracetamol and sleeping loads."
“The tricky thing now is dealing with muscle weakness and dizziness caused by lack of appetite … The other thing I’m noticing about this thing is how it comes in very fast waves," she continued. "It feels kinda different than normal flu. A fever will come on for two hours and be gone. Not too worried, I’m sure I’ll kick this thing.”
After providing an update on her health, Polachek urged her fans to socially distance as much as possible. “Friends back in the US are telling me that in LA and New York people are still going out to bars and restaurants, which is crazy," she said. "If you’re watching this and you’re still going out to stuff like that, please don’t. It’s everyone’s responsibility now to slow down the passage of this virus.” View Polachek's entire story on Instagram.
In a similar vain, Grande made an appeal of reason to her audience. “Please don’t turn a blind eye,” Grande wrote on her Instagram story. “It is incredibly dangerous and selfish to take this situation that lightly,” she continued. “The ‘we will be fine because we’re young’ mindset is putting people who are’t young and / or healthy in a lot of danger. You sound stupid and privileged and you need to care more about others. Like now.”
“well some of us have to work!”
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) March 15, 2020
i understand and entirely support your frustration. i do not mean to disrespect anyone who doesn’t have the privilege of cancelled work or being able to call out of their work. but, this is a national emergency and a pandemic of global proportion.
“I do not mean to disrespect anyone who doesn’t have the privilege of cancelled work or being able to call out their work, but this is a national emergency and a pandemic of global proportion,” the “thank u, next” singer added on Twitter. “These are times when the world should rely on their governments to support the plan for all citizens to stay at home and lessen the threat of infection and the spread of the virus.” Later down in a tweet thread, Grande urged fans to call their senators in support of bill H.R.6201, which provides financial support to those affected by COVID-19.
please support h.r.6201 which has passed the house. this bill will provide people w necessary financial support in terms of paid sick leave / unemployment due to corona virus / isolation / prevention ! please contact your senate to support the passing of this bill ! urgently
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) March 15, 2020
In her own Instagram story, Swift shared a similar message. “I follow you online and I love you guys so much and need to express my concern that things aren’t being taken seriously enough right now,” she wrote. “I’m seeing lots of get togethers and hangs and parties still happening. This is the time to cancel plans, actually truly isolate as much as you can, and don’t assume that because you don’t feel sick that you aren’t possibly passing something on to someone elderly or vulnerable to this. It’s a really scary time but we need to make social sacrifices right now.”
🚨 | Taylor took to Instagram to speak about #COVIDー19 and the importance of self isolation.
— Taylor Swift News (@TSwiftNewsLA) March 15, 2020
“Things aren’t being taken seriously enough right now. I’m seeing lots of get togethers and hangs and parties still happening.” pic.twitter.com/8a1QMQzdDB
Tweeting about the pandemic, Cyrus urged her fans to be “thoughtful” and “respectful” while preparing for social distancing. “No one needs every soup in the store,” she wrote. “The more we hoard the more expensive and sparse necessities will become, leaving many without essentials. This is a great time to practice restraint.”
.@MileyCyrus encourages fans to be thoughtful while social distancing during the Coronavirus outbreak:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 15, 2020
“NO ONE needs every soup in the store, The more we hoard the more expensive and sparse necessities will become, leaving many without essentials.” pic.twitter.com/1o0QEa2R0i
Social distancing is a public health measure that citizens of coronavirus-affected countries are being urged to take. The measures restrict human contact, lessening the chance of virus spread. The positive effects of social distancing can be read about here.
