Campaign asks groups, individuals to stay home to prevent the spread of coronavirus

Campaign encourages people to educate others, practice social distancing

Transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first U.S. case of COVID-19, formerly known as 2019-nCoV. (CDC/ Hannah A Bullock; Azaibi Tamin)

DETROIT – Some small business owners and grassroots organizers in Michigan are hoping to encourage people to stay at home for at least 15 consecutive days to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The #ShutItDown! Stop the Spread campaign was started Thursday and hopes to get at least 25,000 people to sign an online pledge.

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As of Friday, about 12,700 people in Michigan had tested positive for the disease and 479 people had died.

Campaign manager and Detroit small business owner Darci McConnell says organizations and individuals are asked to educate family and friends, use phone banks and social media to reach out to their memberships, teach people what it means to stay inside and host video chats to educate others.