Ryan Reynolds and Seth Rogen have a public service announcement for British Columbians.
Amid the increase of COVID-19 cases in British Columbia, Canada, B.C. Premier John Horgan called in the big guns to help spread a message of awareness and urge people to stay at home – Canada-native movie stars Ryan Reynolds and Seth Rogen.
“I have been talking about the importance of making sure that younger demographics are hearing the message. This is a callout to Deadpool right now. Ryan we need your help up here,” Premier Horgan says in the video posted on his official Twitter account. “Seth Rogen another upstanding British Columbian, we need to communicate to people who aren’t hearing us.”
Ryan was first to answer the call – leaving a cheeky voice message on Twitter voice message in response.
“I’m not sure it’s a great idea, frankly. People, I don’t think they want medical advice from guys like me, no sir,” Ryan hilariously began, adding jokingly, “Unless it’s plastic surgery. Which, a lot of people don’t know this, but I used to be Hugh Jackman.”
“Young folks in B.C., they’re partying, which is of course, dangerous,” he continued. “And they probably don’t know that thousands of young people are just getting sick from coronavirus. They’re also dying from it, too. And, of course, it’s terrible that it affects our most vulnerable.”
“B.C. is home to some of the coolest people,” he said, citing David Suzuki and his mom as examples.
“Here’s the thing,” he went on. “I hope young people in B.C. don’t kill my mom, frankly. Or David Suzuki, or each other. Let’s not kill anyone. I think that’s reasonable.”
However, he hilariously acknowledged that he might not be the best person to deliver the message. “I love parties, my favorite thing to do is just sit alone in my room with a glass of gin and the first 32 seasons of Gossip Girl. That’s a party,” he said.
Seth Rogen followed suit a day later, going on Twitter to address not just young people, but everyone in B.C.
“People of British Columbia! Please do not go out to parties and BBQs and other large gatherings! The COVID is still out there!” the comedian tweeted, and offered an alternative to partying, “It’s more fun to hang out alone and smoke weed and watch movies and TV shows anyway! Do that instead! Thank you!”
Umm…okay, maybe don’t take the weed thing literally(?) – but both stars do have a point. According to Global News, the increase in COVID-19 cases in British Columbia has been “mainly linked to people in their 20s and 30s.” There’s a growing concern that the spread “is linked to parties indoors where guests are drinking and often don’t know each other before the event,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says.
In the U.S., the spike of COVID-19 cases has also led to several states pausing or rolling back plans to reopen – including closing down bars, and other non-essential businesses again in certain areas.
While the coronavirus affects people of all ages, the elderly are more vulnerable to the worst effects of the disease.
Washington Post previously reported there is growing evidence that young people maybe infecting their elder, more vulnerable family members, especially in shared households with two or more generations of adults.
According to the report, “Front-line caregivers, elected officials and experts in Houston, South Florida and elsewhere say they are seeing patterns of hospitalization and death that confirm fears this would happen.”
The pandemic’s economic repercussions have forced some of the younger adults to move back in with their parents. And, when the states slowly started to reopen, young adults are among those braving exposure to return to work or school. Some have also visited bars and restaurants when the restrictions relaxed. It’s these exposures that run the risk of bringing the virus home and transmitting it to the elder members of their household.
