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#AsktheGov lets politicians answer COVID-19 questions via Twitter

Governors from over a dozen states are participating Thursday, and mayors will hold a similar #AsktheMayor event Friday.

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Image by Pixabay/Illustration by CNET
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

Twitter has announced two digital events this week in the midst of the coronavirus crisis: The first is a Q&A with state governors, in which the governors of over a dozen states will participate; the second connects citizens with various city mayors. The #AsktheGov event will be running Thursday, and the #AsktheMayor event will run Friday.

Governors from the following states will participate:

  • Rhode Island
  • Virginia
  • California
  • Maryland
  • Arkansas
  • Michigan
  • Alabama
  • Missouri
  • New Mexico
  • Washington
  • New Jersey
  • Ohio
  • New Hampshire
  • Illinois

#AsktheMayor will include mayors from nine major cities:

  • Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Chicago
  • Kansas City, Missouri
  • Dayton, Ohio
  • Denver
  • Salt Lake City
  • Philadelphia
  • San Jose, California
  • Seattle

"Empowering [governors and mayors] to facilitate productive conversation, and help their constituents get the most [helpful] public health information" is the primary goal of the event, said Bridget Coyne, public policy director at Twitter. "We want individual [citizens] to have a one-to-one connection [with their elected officials]."

When asked whether this event might be the first of many such events during the health crisis, Coyne emphasized Twitter's goal to provide useful services to its users: "We're evolving the messaging and evolving ... the solutions to meet the needs of the day."

If you want to follow either event, search the hashtags #AsktheGov or #AsktheMayor on Twitter. 

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