Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry hosted an Instagram Live discussion about the coronavirus with Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House coronavirus task force member.
It may not be as entertaining as watching Curry’s 30-foot jumper. But the NBA star’s interview reached 50,000 live viewers including former President Barack Obama, pop star Justin Bieber, rapper Common and former teammates Andre Iguodala and Leandro Barbosa.
Curry has 5 million Instagram followers.
Fauci, an immunologist and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, had a miniature basketball hoop behind him during the live session.
Curry asked Fauci a slew of frequently asked questions from his followers—including the difference of flu and coronavirus and importance of social distancing, and need to “flatten the curve” by staying at home and staying away from sporting events like watching NBA games in stadiums.
Dr. Fauci said young people like Curry, age 32, should not feel “exempt” from risk, even though the virus tends to be most severe in older people. He said while China and Italy showed there are more elderly and patients with underlying diseases die, there is an alarming trend in the US that even young people and seemingly healthy people get critically ill.
“This is serious business,” he said. “We are not overreacting.”
At least 10 N.B.A. players, including Kevin Durant, one of Curry’s former teammates, have contracted the virus.
