‘Contagion’ cast PSAs urge vigilance against coronavirus: ‘Your life depends on it’

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In an apparent effort to glean what one might expect from a deadly viral pandemic, streams of the 2011 film “Contagion” spiked earlier this month, placing the eerily prophetic flick near the top of many streaming services’ most-watched lists. Perhaps now realizing the power they wielded, stars of the film, including Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, …

In an apparent effort to glean what one might expect from a deadly viral pandemic, streams of the 2011 film “Contagion” spiked earlier this month, placing the eerily prophetic flick near the top of many streaming services’ most-watched lists.

Perhaps now realizing the power they wielded, stars of the film, including Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet and Jennifer Ehle, have each released home videos to educate people on how the coronavirus spreads and urging viewers to continue to be vigilant. The PSAs are produced in partnership with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

“Every single one of us, regardless of age or ethnicity, is at risk of getting it,” warns Ehle in her clip.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the movie examines the now-terrifyingly real possibility of a scenario in which a lethal, airborne flu kills victims within days. Damon, whose character was luckily immune to the proverbial virus, reminds viewers in his video missive that “Contagion” is just “a movie. This is real life.”

“I have no reason to believe that I’m immune to COVID-19. And neither do you,” he adds.

For his part, Fishburne emphasizes support for medical staff. “If we can slow this thing down, it will give our doctors and our nurses in our hospitals a fighting chance to help us all get through this thing together,” he says.

Meanwhile, Winslet asks her husband to hold her smartphone camera while she demonstrates proper hand-washing technique, which she learned from health experts who worked with her to prepare for her role as an epidemiologist in “Contagion”.

“Wash your hands like your life depends on it,” she says while over a restroom sink, “because right now, in particular, it just might.” She adds that the lives of “someone you love or . . . someone you might not know” are equally as “deserving of your consideration.” She goes on to explain how the coronavirus pathogen is transmitted and best practices to avoid it, according to scientists.

“Contagion” screenwriter Scott Z. Burns created the informative campaign with help from the film’s medical experts. One such consultant, Ian Lipkin, who now leads Columbia University’s Center for Infection and Immunity, confirmed earlier this week that he tested positive for COVID-19 — demonstrating that even the most learned experts on the matter are at-risk.