March 31, 2020
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot displayed her many talents in a lighthearted public service announcement aimed at encouraging Chicagoans to “stay home and save lives.”
Lightfoot’s caption reads: “I don’t have much time to myself these days, but I felt I needed to make sure everyone knows how I feel about this Stay at Home Order. Which one motivates you the most to stay at home? #StayHomeSaveLives”
At one point in the video, Lightfoot quips, “What’s more important, saving lives or getting a pedicure?”
I don’t have much time to myself these days, but I felt I needed to make sure everyone knows how I feel about this Stay at Home Order. Which one motivates you the most to stay at home? #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/pDbCdySMQk
— Mayor Lightfoot #StayHomeSaveLives (@chicagosmayor) March 30, 2020
Lightfoot, whose penetrating glare and no-nonsense attitude made her the subject of social media ridicule, adopted a different approach in the video, showing off her fun side. The Chicago mayor decorated her home, strummed an acoustic guitar and even celebrated the White Sox’ 2005 World Series victory.
The video gently brings light to a dire situation as Chicago residents prepare to social distance until April 30 as cases of the coronavirus COVID-19 increase at an alarming rate. In the past 24 hours, Illinois state officials confirmed 937 new COVID-19 cases and 26 coronavirus-related deaths.
“It’s a matter of life or death, frankly,” said President Donald Trump during a Tuesday press conference, revealing projections he described as “sobering.”
According to White House projections, officials anticipate 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in a best-case scenario. Absent of intervention, that number could climb to 2.2 million.
Despite its playful tone, Lightfoot’s public service announcement carries the same somber message she’s been promoting throughout the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic: stay home for the sake of saving lives.
Read more from Matthew Rago:
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