Kate Winslet, Matt Damon and stars launch coronavirus PSA

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have come together to urge people to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne and other stars from the film Contagion released a series of videos sharing information about the pandemic.

Part of the #ControltheContagion campaign, in partnership with Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the PSAs touch of safe hygiene practices, social distancing and what people can do to stop the spread.

“In the movie Contagion, I played an epidemiologist trying to stop the spread of a hypothetical virus. To prepare for the role, I spent time with some of the best public health professionals in the world,” says Winslet, filming the video from her bathroom.

“What was one of the most important things they taught me?” she says. “Wash your hands like your life depends on it because right now, in particular, it just might. Or the life of someone you love, or even the life of someone you might not know but is still deserving of your consideration.”

Winslet goes on to demonstrate the correct hand washing technique. “The way soap works is that one end of the molecule binds with the water and the other end binds to the grease in your hands. The virus is washed away with that grease.”

In his PSA, co-star Matt Damon explains the importance of social distancing. “It means stay six feet away from another person,” he says. “It means not gathering in groups and it means staying home or sheltering in place, if that’s what government officials are telling you to do.”

 

 

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