Melania Trump to Appear in Coronavirus Public Service Ads

(Bloomberg) -- The White House is working with broadcast networks on commercials designed to tell Americans how to protect themselves from the coronavirus, including social distancing measures.

Commercials will feature first lady Melania Trump and members of the president’s coronavirus task force -- among them, coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci -- and will address personal hygiene and mental health.

Partners in the effort include NBCUniversal Media LLC -- which plans to create its own series of videos and graphics -- and ViacomCBS Inc., which will turn over air time on both its broadcast channel and cable networks like MTV and Comedy Central. Radio giant iHeartMedia Inc. and Walt Disney Co. also plan to participate in the effort.

The media companies will donate airtime to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway said Wednesday on Fox News that the effort is designed to “make sure we are getting that message to the American people all at once.”

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