With regards to social distancing outreach, including for younger people, the following actions have been taken:
Launch of #itsinourhands campaign with GAA and Rugby stars
Social distancing outdoor artwork has been developed.
Social distancing guidelines artwork has been developed.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) symptoms and protection advice.
The Department of Health is producing a video for social media
The HSE has paid social media hitting all age groups, and has also engaged with all social media platforms extensively, and talked to TikTok about how they can work with them on this.
DoH videos can all be viewed and shared from the Department’s Youtube page here – https://www.youtube.com/user/healthpresspack/videos and all tweets can be liked and shared from its Twitter page here – https://twitter.com/roinnslainte.
The Department of Health has also now launched its central hub of assets that can be downloaded. At the moment this includes posters and infographics (to be added very soon). The department is looking to add videos to this site as well.
Departments / agencies are welcome to access this site and download directly any assets they wish to use for the COVID-19 outreach and awareness. https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/02cd5c-covid-19-information-resources/
Sports stars from the GAA and rugby world are supporting the HSE by asking everyone to play their part and help protect everyone from coronavirus, and more importantly, protect the vulnerable people around us.
GAA and rugby players are posting videos on social media appealing to people to help slow the spread of the virus – look for hashtag #Itsinourhands .
GAA players involved include Mayo footballer Aidan O’Shea, Kilkenny camogie player Grace Walsh, Clare hurler Shane O’Donnell, Kerry footballer Paul Geaney and Limerick hurler Cian Lynch. Rugby players such as Rob Kearney, Johnny Sexton, Ciara Griffin, Louise Galvin, Greg O’Shea, Peter O’Mahony, Eoin McKeon and Iain Henderson are also participating.
Paul Flynn, GPA CEO said: “GPA and WGPA members are well aware of their positions as role-models and leaders within their counties and communities. That is why it was so important to them that they played their part in helping efforts to flatten the curve. They see it as a duty and a responsibility to do all we can to help in this current crisis especially given that some of their fellow players are right on the front line in the fight against Covid-19.
Simon Keogh, Rugby Players Ireland CEO said: “Rugby Players Ireland’s members, like the general public, know that they have a civic duty to do all they can to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Our players are aware of the huge amount of work being done by our medical professionals in the fight against this virus and want to assist in any small way we can. By using our collective voice we hope we can help to amplify the government’s important message of taking the right precautions.”
In the videos the players tell people that we can’t stop the virus, but together, we can reduce the impact it has on ourselves, our families, communities, our health service and our day-to-day lives.
The goal is to slow the spread of coronavirus. If we can slow it down, we give ourselves, and our most vulnerable people, more options and more time for care and recovery.
The key message is that our collective efforts are critical, we need to do this together, as one community. We will be asking everyone to play their part, to help each other.
– Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, and do it often
– Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, then bin the used tissue
– Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
– Stop hugging and shaking hands
– Play apart by keeping social distance of 1 or ideally 2m
– Work at home if you can.
Paul Connors, HSE National Director of Communications, said today, ‘The health service is extremely grateful for the support of our sports players with this initiative, and we’re certain it will really help people, particularly younger people, to understand and stick to the current advice on preventing this disease. We can all work together to help protect ourselves, and especially protect people we love who are older or who have a long-term medical condition. Thank you to each and every one of the players who are taking part – we’re passing the message, not the virus.’
‘And remember, for factual, trusted advice and information on COVID-19, go to HSE.ie’.