The ‘Hands. Face. Space’ campaign has been launched by the Government to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic this winter.
The campaign urges the public to continue to wash their hands, cover their face and make space to control infection rates and avoid a second peak. It will run across TV, radio, print, out of home, social and digital display advertising, as well as on community media channels and will be supported by a variety of public and private sector partners throughout the coming weeks.
‘As we approach winter and inevitably spend more time indoors, we need the public to keep following this important advice to control the spread of the virus,’ said Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty.
‘Hands. Face. Space’ emphasises important elements of the guidance we want everybody to remember: wash your hands regularly, use a face covering when social distancing is not possible and try to keep your distance from those not in your household. Following these simple steps could make a significant difference in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and help protect you and your family.’
As part of this campaign, a new video is being released to show exactly how coronavirus spreads indoors. With people expected to spend more time inside during the winter, the film encourages the public to follow simple steps to reduce the risk of infection.
‘Coronavirus is emitted in tiny droplets when we breathe, talk, laugh or cough. Other people can be exposed to these when they are close to someone with the virus or they are in a poorly ventilated room for a long time,’ said Professor Catherine Noakes, part of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) who specialises in airborne infections.