Ellen Pompeo gave an encouraging shoutout to nurses and doctors

Grey’s Anatomy’s Ellen Pompeo took to Instagram to thank the doctors and nurses on the front lines dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

Social-media feeds are flooded with footage of news about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), offering prevention tips and commentary. Even celebrities are using social media to do what they can to share some much-needed positivity on their channels and profiles.

Not long after Grey’s Anatomy announced it was putting production on hold to minimize COVID-19 risk for its staff and their loved ones, its main star posted a video on Instagram. Instead of using her platform to apologize to fans or to address the production halt, though, Ellen Pompeo took the opportunity to thank those risking their own health and safety to care for patients in need.

"“Many of us have the privilege to self-quarantine and isolate and try to stay healthy, and none of you have that privilege,” she said in a video posted Friday. “You all have to be on the front lines of this thing … what is certainly bad now, but will most definitely get worse in the next couple of weeks.”"

She addressed doctors, nurses, and healthcare and hospital workers directly, thanking them for all they’re doing in this collective time of uncertainty.

"“This is just from me and my family to all of you to say: We appreciate you. We thank you. We love you. Stay safe.”"

Ellen Pompeo has played a doctor on a hit medical drama for over 15 years. She doesn’t pretend to know all the facts when it comes to real-world public health issues. But she doesn’t hesitate to show her appreciation for those working in healthcare and those responsible for getting the right information out there, especially in anxious times like this.

Thanks for the spark of light, Ellen! We really needed it today.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.