The campaign is similar to the ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ campaign used for influenza.
The government-funded campaign will include public health advice on how people can protect themselves from infection.
Similar to the ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ campaign used for flu and norovirus, it will promote important hygiene practices, such as regularly washing hands and always sneezing into a tissue, to stem the spread of viruses.
HM Government and NHS-branded information will appear in radio and print media, as well as social media.
The campaign will advise the public to; always carry tissues and use them to catch coughs and sneezes, and bin the tissue alongside offering handwashing advice.
The Government claims the UK is “extremely well prepared for any potential outbreak of an infectious disease” as “we are one of the first countries in the world to have developed a test for the new virus.”
We can all play our part.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Our highly trained and experienced clinicians are working round the clock to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the UK. The government has detailed plans for how to deal with an outbreak like this. We can all play our part.
“Basic hygiene such as washing our hands regularly and using tissues when we cough and sneeze can play an important role in minimising the spread of viruses like this.
“Today we have launched a UK-wide public information campaign to help the public protect themselves and each other. Our world-class NHS is well prepared and we are doing everything we can to protect the public.
As of now only two patients in England, who are members of the same family, have tested positive for coronavirus. They are receiving specialist NHS care and we are using tried and tested infection control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus.
DOWNLOAD: Coronavirus public information poster (, , )
