Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds pledge $1m to food banks during Covid-19 outbreak

"Remember the lonely and isolated."

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have pledged $1 million to food banks to help those suffering due to the coronavirus outbreak. The couple will offer the funds to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada to aid older people and low income families who may be struggling. Last week, US president Donald Trump declared the country to be in a national emergency. Canada, meanwhile, has closed its borders to most people with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging the public to "stay home." Lively said this week that she and her husband wanted to offer the pledge to help the most vulnerable during these difficult times. "Though we must be distancing ourselves to protect those who don't have the opportunity to self quarantine, we can stay connected," she said on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B90GOb6pgMy/ "FaceTime, Skype, make a video. Remember the love that can travel through all this. Communities are stepping up - shopping for the elderly, making lunches for children. "We can all do something for one another, even if that's simply staying home." Lively added that despite his hopes, her husband Ryan would not be able to achieve "emotional distancing" from his mother in law - "Nothing can save him." Lively also asked the public to make their own pledge to food banks and other charities where possible. So far, four people in Canada have died as a result of the coronavirus. At least 88 people have died in the States. Two people have died in Ireland due to the virus with the number of confirmed cases standing at 223. This number is expected to rise considerably over the coming days.