After Massari’s message to the people in Lebanon urging them to stay safe at home, here comes another similar message from a celebrity overseas.
However, unlike Massari who is Lebanese, the famous Spanish footballer isn’t and not even by origins.
His concern and care for Lebanon though come also out of love; his love for the Lebanese model Daniella Semaan, his wife and the mother of his three children.
The legendary soccer player Cesc Fàbregas Soler made a video message, which he posted on social media, urging the Lebanese in Lebanon to stay at home, for it’s the only way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
He opened up speaking in the Lebanese language, “Marhaba, this is Cesc Fabregas, in time of the coronavirus” and he continues in English, “I want to ask all the Lebanese people to stay at home because it is the only way to stop this virus from killing people.”
He then concluded in Lebanese: “Stay at home, and… eat shawarma,” he added with a hint of humor, giving a thumb up.
Fabregas is a former Arsenal and Chelsea star, and is known to be one of the toughest opponents in the field.
Labeled “the legend”, he currently plays for the French club AS Monaco FC (#4/Midfielder), and Catalonia national football team (#10/Midfielder).
Fabregas is known worldwide as a top player. His fan base is huge. He has over 10M followers on Twitter and 11.2M on Instagram.
His desire to address this video-message to the Lebanese might have been inspired by his wife Daniella who has been spreading awareness to the Lebanese on social media about the coronavirus.
It has been noticeable to all across the internet that many in Lebanon are not taking seriously this malicious coronavirus outbreak.
They are disregarding social distancing and self-quarantine and continuing with their lifestyle as if no danger lurks at any corner and any proximity.
We’ve been seeing large crowds at Al-Manara seafront and large prayer groups in some streets of Tripoli and Beirut.
We’ve been seeing dozens of young boys jammed in a small internet shop being raided by the police (check it out here), and narrow alleys crammed with people going on with their routine.
And we’ve heard of the hundreds who went celebrating at a patient’s house, and on on.
That, among other irresponsible behaviors, has brought a new slang to be used in Lebanon: Covidiot.
And yet, the daily updates on the coronavirus affected cases are increasing in Lebanon, exceeding now the 200.
That’s all caused by transmission, and Lebanon is now at the dangerous level of spread, as announced by the health minister.
There is no wonder that the circulating images and videos of highly risky gatherings have urged celebrities like Massari from Canada and Cesc from Monaco, as well as a Lebanese-Italian doctor from Italy, to call out the Lebanese people to take this matter with utmost seriousness.
Because many are not, and it is scary.
Cesc is staying with his family under quarantine and regularly encourages his fans to do the same. His tweet on Saturday urges people to “be safe and be responsible” and points out at the positive sides of quarantine: Spending quality time with the family.
We have a dedicated coronavirus section where you can find the latest news/updates about the pandemic in Lebanon, inform yourself with WHO-verified resources, and track the number of cases in Lebanon in real-time. Click here.
