- Government launches new national campaign
encouraging people to keep going and stay at home
- The new advertising reminds people
everything they’re doing is helping stop the spread of the virus
- As set out in the roadmap, lockdown will
begin to lift but it emphasises the need for caution to keep the
virus under control
Everyone across the UK is being reminded of the importance of
staying at home and the risks in relaxing their behaviour at this
crucial point, in a new advertising campaign launched today.
While transmission rates decline, vaccines continue to be rolled
out and the roadmap out of lockdown has been published, the
heartening new campaign is encouraging people to ‘keep going’. It
acknowledges how difficult lockdown has been but highlights its
effectiveness with falling infection rates and successful vaccine
roll out.
The campaign will run across TV, radio, out of home advertising
and on social media, reminding people that everything they’ve
done – working from home, washing their hands, wearing a mask,
maintaining social distancing and video calling – is helping stop
the spread of Covid-19 and new variants, edging us closer to
coming out of lockdown. Every small act is making a big
difference and it is important that everyone keeps doing what
they’re doing. It will air for the first time on ITV at 19:15
tonight.
Health and Social Care Secretary, , said:
“The British resolve during this pandemic has been astounding.
We’ve all pulled together to help each other out.
“I know it’s been a long year but we can’t let up now. Everything
we’re doing is bringing us one step closer to beating this virus.
“The vaccine roll out is going extremely well and is saving lives
- but it is not the only way we will reduce infection rates and
be able to get back to normality.
“So let’s keep going. I encourage everyone to keep playing their
part and stay at home - keep washing your hands, wearing a mask
and maintaining a social distance which will ensure that,
together, we beat this.”
Chief Medical Officer, , said:
“Infection rates are falling, but they still remain very high and
the impact of Covid-19 is still putting pressure on hospitals
across the country.
“Vaccines give clear hope for the future, but for now we must all
continue to play our part in protecting the NHS and saving
lives.”
This week, the Prime Minister has set out 4 stages of the roadmap
– the first of which will involve reopening schools and allowing
outdoor recreation with one other person from 8 March. However,
even at this point, the Stay at Home order remains in place and
people can still only legally leave their house for a very
limited number of reasons. The Stay at Home message will, at the
earliest, end on 29 March where people will be urged to stay
local and keep taking individual decisions around their risk
exposure.
The vast majority of people are staying at home and as a result,
the number of COVID-19 cases is falling. However, infection
levels remain high and the impact of the second wave is still
being seen in hospitals across the country with over 1,000 people
admitted to hospital every day. It is critical everyone continues
to stay at home and follow the rules to help bring down
infections even further and reduce pressure on the NHS.
