New advert campaign urges people to stay home
THE UK Government has launched a new “stay at home” drive despite falling coronavirus rates, the success of the vaccine rollout and the announcement of a road map out of lockdown.
Ministers said it was essential that people continued mask-wearing, social distancing and hand washing as restrictions in England began to ease to keep the disease under control.
As a new advertising blitz was launched, England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said “we must all continue to play our part” in controlling the spread of the virus.
Earlier, the deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-tam acknowledged that there had been a “slowdown” in the vaccine rollout due to supply fluctuations.
But he insisted he remained confident the targets of giving a first dose to the top nine priority groups by mid-april and to all adults by the end of July will be met.
The latest Government data up to February 23 showed 18,242,873 across the UK had received a first dose of a vaccine.
The call for people to maintain social distancing came amid
continuing pressure from some Conservative MPS for the Government to move faster on lifting restrictions.
Under the plan set out by Boris Johnson on Monday, England’s stay at home order will remain in place until at least March 29 despite the minor easing of restrictions and the return of schools on March 8.
Prof Whitty said that while infection rates were falling, overall numbers remained “very high”, 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,” he said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that while the vaccine rollout was going well, it was not the only way to keep rates down.
“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,” he said.
Prof Van-tam said he understood people’s frustrations with the pace of the road map, but said it was essential to avoid the need a reimposition of restrictions.
“I’d rather do this once and get it right and not have to make any U-turns or backtracking,” he said.