The White House has issued an urgent call out to young people: if you want to help stop the spread of coronavirus, stop partying.
The message comes as the Trump administration revealed new guidelines asking Americans to avoid crowds of 10 or more people in a situation for at least two weeks, including restaurants, bars and schools.
“They [millennials]are the core group that will stop this virus,” Dr. Deborah Birx (pictured), a member of President Trump’s coronavirus response team, told the press briefing room. “Why do I think millennials are key? Because they’re the ones out and about.”
Even celebrities have got in on the act, encouraging millennials to take action by staying home and practising social distancing (pictured inset).
The message comes as videos and photos of university students on spring holiday in Florida have poured in, showing many unconcerned by the risk of the virus.
“If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I’m not going to let it stop me from partying,” one student said.
Trump acknowledged young people have been ignoring the guidelines, but warned this lack of concern could have serious consequences.
“They’re feeling invincible … but they don’t realise that they can be carrying lots of bad things home to grandmother and grandfather and even their parents,” he said.
That may just be the most sensible message we’ve heard from the US President.
