Stay alert motto to be swapped for new ‘let’s take the next step safely’ slogan
The Government want to remind people to stay outside at restrictions ease this Easter.
The Government’s ‘stay alert’ slogan is set to be replaced with a new ‘let’s take this next step safely’ motto, it has been reported.
At the start of the pandemic, the Government urged people to ‘stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives’. But when the UK started to come out of lockdown last May, it was changed its messaging to ‘stay alert, control the virus, save lives’.
Now, as the country’s third lockdown begins to lift, the motto will be changed again, The Sun reports. Ministers are said to have signed off a new ‘let’s take this next step safely’ tagline.
It comes as last year’s ‘stay alert’ slogan was widely criticised for being too vague and confusing by both Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, among others.
After the Prime Minister announced the slogan, Ms Sturgeon said: ‘We mustn’t squander progress by easing up too soon or sending mixed messages.
‘People will die unnecessarily. We must not take that risk. My basic message remains the same: Please stay at home.’
PR industry leader Ginny Paton previously told PRWeek: ‘It’s vague, unclear and unhelpful. If ever there was a message created by committee, this was it. It says nothing while covering everything.’
The Government’s new campaign will reportedly focus on reminding people that they should still be meeting others outside, despite the easing of lockdown.
From march 29, people will be allowed to meet outdoors in groups of six or with two households.
As the long Easter weekend approaches, the public will be reminded of the new rules with TV and radio adverts telling them they’re not allowed to mix indoors.
If deaths and hospitalisations keep declining and the country’s vaccination programme continues to run successfully then pubs, restaurants and bars will open next on April 12.
Boris Johnson hopes to have the UK free of all coronavirus regulations by June 21, the earliest.
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