Ventilation message for users of public transport in Britain halted

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps stopped new coronavirus awareness advertisements from appearing on public transport on fears they will deter people from using buses and trains.

Supporters of the Stop Covid Hanging Around campaign said Mr Shapps had undermined their message that good ventilation is essential in enclosed spaces to prevent the spread of the virus.

The advertisements compare the build-up of coronavirus particles with cigarette smoke and were signed off by officials from Mr Shapps’ department, the health department and the Cabinet Office.

They were to be introduced across the public transport network until Mr Shapps came to know about them.

It was suggested the minister’s objections lay in the fact his department had spent billions keeping the network open during the pandemic and that the advertisements could derail that work.

His supporters said his concerns stemmed more from the analogy with black smoke than ventilation.

“The instruction to open windows when many buses have sealed windows might confuse passengers. We just want a modification and a rethink,” they told The Telegraph.

Last month, Mr Shapps contested plans by Health Secretary Sajid Javid to require travellers to film their coronavirus tests upon returning to the UK.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to confirm this week that all NHS staff must be vaccinated against the virus, although the mandate is not expected to be imposed until March.

This may avoid a danger of a mass departure of medical staff during the busy winter months.