As Americans across the country settle in to what could be weeks of social distancing to curb the spread of the killer coronavirus, Boston residents are coming together through music.
A heartwarming video shows dozens of Bostonians in the street belting out the 1972 classic Lean On Me by Bill Withers.
Ivanka Trump shared the footage on Instagram Monday with the caption: ‘Boston leaning on each other #TogetherApart.’
A heartwarming video shows dozens of Bostonians belting out Lean On Me in the street
At least two dozen people are seen participating in the neighborhood serenade – some hanging out of open windows in their homes, others on the sidewalk and a few in passing cars
Ivanka Trump shared the footage on Instagram Monday
At least two dozen people can be seen participating in the neighborhood serenade, some hanging out of open windows in their homes, others on the sidewalk and a few in passing cars.
Ivanka didn’t indicate where the video came from or who filmed it.
In the comments, several people pointed out that her father, President Donald Trump, has questioned the effectiveness of social distancing.
Trump drew criticism from health experts on Monday after he said during a press conference that he will consider loosening lockdown measures in a matter of days.
One commenter wrote to Ivanka: ‘Please communicate with your Dad that its a good idea about his wanting to get the country back on its feet.
‘Maybe he can start by sending people who were tested positive but recovered from the virus first, then keep sending people back to work as they recovered because those people would have antibody and won’t get sick again.’
‘Leaning on each other because the POTUS and his cabinet can’t be relied on to effectively help the people!’ another commenter wrote.
Several commenters pointed out that Ivanka’s father, President Donald Trump, has questioned the effectiveness of social distancing
But the vast majority of the comments praised the singers for their inspiring show
Similar sing-alongs have broken out across the city in the past week, according to the Boston Globe, after officials began urging Americans to practice social distancing.
The trend began in Italy, where entire neighborhoods have been filmed singing together from their balconies.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued a stay-at-home order for 100 percent of the non-essential workforce on Monday, joining 16 other states that have enacted similarly strict containment measures.
As of Tuesday 777 people in the state have tested positive for COVID-19 and nine have died. Nearly 200 of those cases and two of the deaths were reported in Boston.
Nationwide, there are more than 50,000 confirmed cases and 628 deaths.
More than half of the US cases are concentrated in New York state, with 13,119 in the Big Apple.
Nationwide, there are more than 50,000 confirmed cases and 628 deaths as of Tuesday
New York City residents in self-isolation have also joined in on the sing-along movement.
On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, videos emerged last week of neighbors belting out a medley of songs by The Beatles.
In Brooklyn, a group called the ‘Brownstone Brooklyn COVID-19 Singalone (Singalong)’ put together a pandemic playlist and asked neighbors to join in singing essentials such as Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive and Elton John’s I’m Still Standing last Thursday.
Comedian Trevor Noah poked fun at the trend in his own video last week, which showed him attempting to launch up a sing-song from his balcony before being shut down by some classic New Yorker charm.
‘Why don’t we do this in New York,’ the Daily Show host said from a balcony as he looked out on the city.
He began singing the Aladdin classic A Whole New World – but only made it a few bars before another man yelled: ‘Shut the f**k up.’
Noah ended the skit sheepishly walking away, looking dejected that his attempt to raise spirits with song had gone so terribly.
‘Nothing can break the human spirit,’ he wrote in a tweet with the video.
‘Except that guy. That kinda hurt. Will try again tomorrow.’
Comedian Trevor Noah didn’t have much luck when he tried sing on a balcony like the Italians