Michelle Obama records robocalls urging DC residents to stay home amid pandemic

Former first lady Michelle Obama recorded robocalls urging Washington, D.C., residents to stay home during the pandemic.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser recruited Obama to record robocalls and radio ads to inform residents about free testing and to remind them to stay home to avoid spreading the virus. The calls and ads will go out over the next two weeks, according to a release from Bowser’s office. 

“Remember, we urge you to stay home except if you need essential health care, essential food or supplies or to go to your essential job,” Obama said in the recorded message. 

DC residents — If you have any #coronavirus symptom, you can get a free test by calling 1-855-363-0333@MichelleObama is helping us get out the word about free testing and reminding residents to #StayHomeDC except for essential trips for food, medicine or exercise pic.twitter.com/fRZ7aeZJf8

— Muriel Bowser #StayHomeDC (@MurielBowser) April 27, 2020

The mayor said in the statement, “We are grateful to First Lady Obama for joining our effort to let residents know about free testing and for encouraging DC to stay home.”

Some people, including The Washington Post’s White House bureau chief Philip Rucker, have already reported receiving Obama’s call.  

Just received a robocall from Michelle Obama on behalf of DC Mayor Bowser with information about coronavirus testing in the District and urging all residents to please stay home.

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) April 29, 2020

Bowser has also recruited celebrity chef José Andrés to chair the restaurant committee of the ReOpen D.C. Advisory Group. The group is led by former national security adviser to former President Obama Susan Rice and Homeland Security secretary under former President George W. Bush Michael Chertoff. 

D.C. has confirmed 4,106 positive cases of the virus and at least 205 deaths, according to city data from Tuesday.