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It's difficult to not see this entire viral pandemic as anything but a recurring example of how to not treat a major threat to society.
Our government's slow response aside, other figures we look up to have also been dropping the ball.
Celebrities should obviously not be your first choice of role models, but considering how bad our leaders above them have been acting, maybe they'll have better takes?
And maybe not, if they're Evangeline Lilly.
Lilly, famous for her roles in Lost and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, took to Instagram to share how little she's changing her life in the face of this pandemic.
She seems very calm for someone living in the middle of this crisis.
"#morningtea ☕️ Just dropped my kids off at gymnastics camp. They all washed their hands before going in. They are playing and laughing. #businessasusual"
People have several questions because of this Insta post, not the least of which is what gymnastics camp is still running during this time, but we have to put those on hold for this article.
Instead, we ask, why is she putting herself and her community at risk?
It would appear that Lilly subscribes to the conspiracy theory that there is a big virus every U.S. election year. This has been thoroughly discredited.
On a general level, threatening viruses do come around every few years, especially since our connected world allows viruses that spread person to person to easily cross continents. But in the past, our government took quicker precautions, and had things contained after a few months.
And vaccines were available to halt the spread.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 had initial warnings in January, but we're only just now doing something about it.
Self-isolation to slow the spread of the virus is how we help our community at this time.
Sadly, it looks like no matter how much you explain to her that this is dangerous, she doubles down.
That comment has enough for a massive deep dive, the least of which is her silly "Marshall Law" misspelling that Senator Marco Rubio made recently too.
She also makes another false claim that COVID-19 is nothing more than a "respiratory flu". COVID-19 has some symptoms in common with the flu, but it is much more dangerous.
The fact the symptoms do look like another, less deadly disease only adds to the danger here. People may not get medical treatment if they just think it's a harmless "respiratory flu".
Also, we have treatments for other kinds of flus, but right now, we don't for this Novel Coronavirus. We have to isolate to prevent the disease spreading before we can find treatments for it.
Otherwise, it will infect the most vulnerable among us, like the elderly or those who are immunocompromised.
Has anyone explained directly to Evangeline Lilly how this works yet?
There is a genuine danger here that is not being addressed. No, you probably don't need to stock up on a mountain of toilet paper and hand sanitizer, but precautions do need to be taken.
Wash your hands properly. Sanitize high touch surfaces.
Stay home or at least away from large gatherings if you are able (You know, like if you're a rich and famous celebrity). See a doctor if you develop symptoms.
And please, don't take health advice from celebrities.