New hard-hitting government Covid advert urges nation to 'stay at home'

22 January 2021, 18:00 | Updated: 22 January 2021, 18:07

Government Stay at Home advert

By Maddie Goodfellow

The public will be faced with a set of hard-hitting new adverts warning people to stay home in a new government bid to ensure people obey lockdown rules.

With close-ups of frontline medical practitioners and Covid-19 patients' faces, the advert will ask: "Can you look them in the eyes and tell them you're helping by staying at home?"

It comes after the UK on Wednesday reported a daily record number of deaths from the virus, with a further 1,820 people dying within 28 days of testing positive.

A further 1,401 people were declared dead on Friday using the same criteria, taking the total death toll to 95,981 since the epidemic started in the UK.

The television advert will air on ITV and Channel 4 on Friday evening and further advertising will run across radio, online and across social media from Saturday evening, the Government said.

The advert will ask: "Can you look them in the eyes and tell them you're helping by staying at home?"
The advert will ask: "Can you look them in the eyes and tell them you're helping by staying at home?". Picture: Number 10

A shift in tone from previous adverts will see footage and remarks broadcast from patients who have coronavirus, as well as the NHS staff who are looking after them at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.

The Government said that someone is currently admitted to hospital every 30 seconds with the virus, and a quarter of those are under the age of 55.

There are currently over 38,000 beds taken up in England by Covid patients.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "The NHS is under intense pressure.

"They are relying on all of us to follow the rules.

"I know how long the last few months have felt, and I know the vast majority of people are following the rules, but we have come too far to let up now.

"Every day we are closer to beating this virus, and already over five million people across the UK have been vaccinated.

"But right now more than ever we need to stick together to protect our NHS and to keep saving lives.

"The message couldn't be clearer - stay at home."

Patrick Vallance outlines evidence showing new variant is more deadly

England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: "The impact of the current wave is still putting significant pressure on hospitals across the country and many patients are very sick.

"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."

Dr Emeka Okorocha, a A&E doctor at East London Hospitals, said: "The past year has been tough on everyone and I know that lockdown has been so frustrating for so many of us.

"However, life is really tough on the frontline at the moment, so ask yourself, is it worth breaking the rules to go and meet friends?

"Lives are being lost and the strain on my colleagues is clear.

"We're all exhausted but we are still here fighting the good fight against this horrible disease."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

billy nighy

Billy Nighy 'stole complete works of Shakespeare from library' to prepare for drama school audition

v

Winner in Conservative leadership contest to be announced this morning

Palma is on lockdown amid warnings of heavy rain

Majorca on lockdown as tourist hotspot faces flooding horror after storm kills more than 200

UK GP visiting senior woman at home

Care homes and GPs could face closure under Labour tax plans, health leaders warn

Rebekah Vardy 'threatens to reignite war with Coleen Rooney'

Rebekah Vardy launches appeal against Wagatha Christie £1.8m costs ruling

Alexandra Palace Hosts Its Annual Fireworks Display Ahead Of Bonfire Night

Bonfire night 2024 forecast: What will the weather be like for fireworks night?

Darrian Williams

Two teen boys found guilty after 16-year-old stabbed to death by masked attackers in Bristol park

Westminster Protest

'Betrayed' farmers to protest over Labour's inheritance tax raid - as Chancellor insists changes are 'fair'

Police crime scene tape UK

Six teenagers arrested after 13-year-old girl left with life-threatening injuries in East Yorkshire stabbing

Israel claims to have killed a high-ranking member of Hamas

Israel 'eliminates' one of Hamas' last high-ranking officials

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

King Charles 'finally cuts Prince Andrew off' as he 'axes Duke's annual £1m allowance'

Claw hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked sleeping students and teacher handed life sentence

Pictured: Public schoolboy, 17, who attacked sleeping students and teacher with hammers he kept 'for zombie apocalypse'

Emergency and rescue personnel work at the site where a concrete outdoor roof of a train station collapsed in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad

Train station canopy collapses in Serbia, killing 8 people in horror accident, with more victims still trapped in rubble

The passengers was fined £48 despite their bag fitting.

Air passenger shames easyJet on TikTok after he was charged £48 for carry-on bag that fit perfectly into size checker

Gabriel Silvera and  Dragos Carabineanu

Thug kills father with one punch after being asked for a cigarette outside Tube station

File photo dated 26/07/24 of Ben Stokes. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, England’s Test and limited-overs captains respectively, have each signed new two-year central contracts. Issue date: Thursday October 31, 2024.

Man arrested after home of England cricket captain Ben Stokes raided by masked burglars