Ministers launch coronavirus ad blitz as NHS ramps up emergency planning
3 min read
The Government has expanded its public information campaign in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus - as NHS chiefs stepped up their emergency planning for an outbreak.
An advertising blitz launched by Health Secretary Matt Hancock will stress the importance of frequent hand-washing in protecting the public from COVID-19.
The NHS on Tuesday declared the outbreak a 'level four incident' - the highest tier of emergency preparedness planning.
Mr Hancock said: "The UK is a world leader in preparing for and managing disease outbreaks and I have every confidence in our nation's ability to respond to the threat of COVID-19.
"We all have a role to play in stopping this disease and that's what this expanded campaign is all about - making sure the public knows exactly what they should be doing to keep themselves and others safe.
"Washing hands regularly is the single most important thing that an individual can do. Public safety remains our top priority. The government and the NHS are working 24/7 to fight this virus.
"It's imperative that everyone follows clinical advice by contacting NHS 111, and not going to A&E if you develop symptoms."
The new adverts - set to feature in print, radio, public spaces and online - will seek to drive home the message that regular hand-washing is the most important action people can take in stopping the spread of the disease.
The public will be told to wash their hands when they come home from work, before they handle food, or when they blow their nose, cough or sneeze.
NHS England has meanwhile ordered hospitals to review their intensive care bed capacity and set up 24/7 incident management teams.
A letter to staff from the NHS's strategic incident director Keith Willett said: "To date, Covid-19 has been managed as a high consequence infectious disease through our specialist centres so we could learn as much as possible about the virus and course of the illness.
"It is now appropriate to begin to manage some patients within wider infectious disease units and, in due course if the number of cases continues to grow, we will need to use all acute units, for example through the cohorting of patients."
The number of confirmed cases of the disease in the UK currently stands at 51.
On Tuesday Boris Johnson unveiled the Government's coronavirus “battle plan”, which sets out measures it would take in a worst-case scenario outbreak. They include stretched police focusing on only the most serious crimes, as well as school closures of up to 12 weeks.
Labour has meanwhile demanded a commitment from the Government that workers forced to take time off because of the bug will not be left out of pocket.
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