Despite every health authority, news outlet, and Tom, Dick and Harry on social media telling us to STAY INSIDE to prevent the spread of coronavirus, there are still plenty of people who insist on getting around and defying the rules around social distancing. One of these people is Lost actress Evangeline Lilly, who recently said she values her “freedom” more than stopping the pandemic from escalating.
In a recent Instagram post, Evangeline Lilly said, “Just dropped my kids off at gymnastics camp. They all washed their hands before going in. They are playing and laughing. #businessasusual.”
Lilly’s post was quick to receive backlash from fans who labelled her “extremely selfish and irresponsible” for denying the reality of the coronavirus crisis.
In response to the criticism, Evangeline Lilly wrote, “I am also immune compromised. I have two young kids. Some people value their lives over freedom, some people value freedom over their lives. We all make our choices. With love and respect.”
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Later, she wrote, “Where we are right now feels a lot too close to Marshall Law for my comfort already, all in the name of a respiratory flu.”
“It’s unnerving…Let’s be vigilant right now. And kind. Watchful and gracious — keeping a close eye on our leaders, and making sure they don’t abuse this moment to steal away more freedoms and grab more power.”
This morning, the Australian Government Department of Health reported that across the world there have been more than 204,700 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 8,400 deaths. It has also been widely reported that the coronavirus death toll in Italy has risen to 3,405, overtaking China.
It’s pretty hard to understand how these numbers aren’t a clear indication of the severity of the situation. They are at least a red, flashing sign telling us that we need to do everything we can right now to stop the spread of this deadly virus. Is Evangeline Lilly choosing to bury her head in the sand because it hasn’t directly affected her yet?
Singer Billie Eilish made a very good point about coronavirus in a recent Instagram story. She told her followers, “I did not realise that it’s not about me. So everybody that’s thinking, ‘I don’t care if I get it,’ it’s not about you. If you do happen to get it or if you’re near somebody that gets it, you can transfer that to somebody else who’s much weaker. And that’s completely irresponsible.”
“You could get it and you could be fine, but you could give it to your parents, you could give it to your grandparents, your aunts, your uncles, your friend’s mom. I realised it’s not about me and I should be worried about the people around me.”
It’s easy not to care when it’s not happening to you, but knowing that it’s our responsibility to stop it from spreading to those who are more vulnerable – that should be enough for Evangeline Lilly, and everyone else, to take this pandemic seriously.
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