The World Health Organization has launched the #SafeHandsChallenge to help raise proper hygiene awareness amidst the coronavirus pandemic that is wreaking havoc across the world. Following the agency's declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, WHO head Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is inviting famous celebrities to join the cause and one of them is the pop sensation BTS.
On Friday, WHO released a two-minute video of Ghebreyesus doing the 11 steps of washing hands that are recommended by the health agency. It was followed by a series of tweets from Ghebreyesus urging celebrities such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Katy Perry, Quantico actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and more to do the same. He also called them to tag at least three other people to join in.
In one of his tweets, Ghebreyesus reached out to BTS to join the challenge. The idea of the newest challenge on the internet is to spread awareness about the importance of proper hand-washing in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
Ghebreyesus' tagging BTS to the #SafeHandsChallenge doesn't come as a surprise to many. It is known that whatever BTS promotes, directly or indirectly, is surely a hit to their millions of fans.
Several celebrities had already responded to the WHO's #SafeHandsChallenge campaign. BTS ARMY, however, has mixed reactions about the agency's invitation to the septet.
Some think it would be a great help if BTS would do it as the group has fans worldwide. The power of the group's fanbase has been a driving force in many of their campaigns. BTS ARMYs from different parts of the world have also raised money and other forms of donations for the countries that are hardest hit by COVID-19.
However, there are also ARMYs who don't want BTS to participate in the #SafeHandsChallenge. Many are critical of WHO particularly on how the agency handled the coronavirus crisis when it started in China. WHO has been slammed for taking too long to declare coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern when it started to spread in Wuhan, China in January.
COVID-19, later on, reached South Korea. The BTS's home country is among the hardest-hit nations of the virus. The "ON" hitmakers were forced to cancel their four-day concert tour in Seoul next month because of the outbreak.
"Do you feel shame for what you did? The virus spread on Jan, you helped China to hide the information and today millions of people suffered. You still have the mood to play the challenges???" one fan wrote.
"Don't use BTS politically. Your reputation in Korea is very bad," another commented.
BTS fans all over the world are anticipating whether or not Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Simin, V, and Jungkook would respond to the challenge. BTS ARMY has already expressed their opinion about the challenge. In the end, the decision to participate lies in the members.
Meanwhile, the septet previously released a video of J-Hope and V showing how to properly sneeze in public. In the clip, V sneezes without covering his mouth and nose. J-Hope reminded him that he should cover his mouth and nose when he sneezes.
