Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande beg people to stay inside amid coronavirus outbreak: 'This is the time to cancel plans'

On Sunday, videos and photos of packed bars, restaurants and nightclubs taken over the weekend flooded the internet, despite public health experts urging social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak. Shortly afterward, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande, two of the most-followed people on social media, begged everyone to stay indoors as much as possible.

"Guys - I follow you online and I love you guys so much and need to express my concern that things aren't being taken seriously enough right now," Swift wrote to her 128 million followers in an Instagram story. "I'm seeing a lot of get togethers and hangs and parties still happening. This is the time to cancel plans, actually truly isolate as much as you can, and don't assume that because you don't feel sick that you aren't possibly passing something on to someone elderly or vulnerable to this. It's a really scary time but we need to make some social sacrifices right now."

Experts say that although maintaining social distance can't stop the virus, it can buy the United States valuable time to slow the spread. Along with school and work shutdowns and event cancellations, some major cities have started enforcing the mandatory closing of bars and are restricting the number of people allowed in restaurants.

Yet some aren't changing their plans, as Grande dryly noted: "like your hip hop yoga class can [expletive] wait i promise," she tweeted to her 72 million Twitter followers; she posted the same message to 177 million on Instagram.

"i keep hearing from a surprising amount of people statements like 'this isn't a big deal' / 'we'll be fine' ... 'we still have to go about our daily lives' and it's really blowing my mind. i understand if that is how u felt weeks ago. but please read about what's going on. please don't turn a blind eye," Grande continued. "it is incredibly dangerous and selfish to take this situation that lightly. the 'we will be fine because we're young' mindset is putting people who aren't young and/or healthy in a lot of danger. you sound stupid and privileged and you need to care more about others. like now."

She also responded to those who pointed out that some people are forced to work, even during a pandemic. "yes. for sure. i am just asking the people that have the privilege of canceled work to practice social distancing instead of deliberately making selfish choices that put others in danger," she wrote, clarifying that she was talking about people who are still going out to eat and to the mall or movies. "if you have the choice, if your work IS canceled, please try to be considerate of others. that is all i meant."

Grande also asked people to call their senators and tell them to support the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which passed in the House and includes paid sick leave and free coronavirus tests.

Other celebrities with large followings chimed in, such as actresses Debra Messing and Piper Perabo, who thanked Grande for tweeting and added their own messages. More stars also spoke of the need to stay inside.

"Major cities are going to shut down. It's inevitable. Restaurants/bars will be closed. We'll go into lockdown. Right now is when you can mitigate the damage," actor Kumail Nanjiani tweeted. "Try & stay home if you can. It'll lessen the pressure on the health care system & you'll help ppl in at risk groups."

"Hi folks. Please stay home for the next couple weeks if you are able to and practice social distancing," supermodel Emily Ratajkowski captioned a selfie on Instagram.

And on Saturday, Lady Gaga also urged her nearly 40 million followers to stay indoors: "So I talked to some doctors and scientists. It's not the easiest for everyone right now but the kindest/healthiest thing we can do is self-quarantine and not hang out with people over 65 and in large groups. I wish I could see my parents and grandmas right now but it's much safer to not so I don't get them sick in case I have it. I'm hanging at home with my dogs. I love you world, we'll all get through this. Trust me, I talked to God - she said we're gonna be ok."