'Grey's Anatomy' star Ellen Pompeo posts urgent plea for people to stay home during COVID-19 pandemic

By George Costantino, Video by Will Linendoll & Nidhi Singh

"Grey’s Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo is the latest celebrity urging people to stay home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the request of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office, Pompeo, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey on the long-running ABC medical drama, posted a video to her Instagram page imploring followers not to go outside if they can avoid it.

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With Love 🙏🏼

A post shared by Ellen Pompeo (@ellenpompeo) on Apr 2, 2020 at 4:04pm PDT

"The health care professionals, the doctors, the nurses, anyone who works in a hospital, they're at their wits end and now they're starting to die," the 50-year-old actress explained. "We're not doing enough. Everybody, just please stay home. And if you know someone who is not taking this seriously and who isn't staying home, please talk to them. We have to stay home. It’s all they're asking us to do. It’s not that hard."

Pompeo shared another video message in March to thank real-life health care workers risking their own health to save others.

"Many of us have the privilege to self-quarantine and isolate and try to stay healthy and none of you have that privilege," Pompeo noted. "So this is just from me and my family to all of you, to say thank you."

"We appreciate you. We love you. Stay safe. Nurses rock. Doctors rock. And anyone who works in a hospital or the health care industry, you rock. We love you. Stay safe," she added.

Ben Stiller, LaLa Anthony, Danny DeVito and Rober De Niro have also asked New Yorkers to stay inside to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The number of cases worldwide reached 1 million on Thursday, with more than 240,000 cases in the U.S. More than 5,900 deaths have been reported worldwide.