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Much of the evidence to our inquiry has acknowledged that this “Stay at Home” slogan...

Conclusion
Much of the evidence to our inquiry has acknowledged that this “Stay at Home” slogan was successful in fostering sufficient levels of awareness and understanding among the public. For example, during this period there was a marked fall in the number of people travelling on the roads and using recreational areas. Written evidence from the Nuffield Trust attributed this apparent success to the “simplicity and ease of recall” of the message.222 According to Professor Devi Sridhar, Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh, the public are more likely to comply with instructions that are clear and easy to understand: You have to take the public with you. The public will comply, not because they are forced to, or because there is military on the streets, but because they want to. People generally want to follow the rules if they understand them.223
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
The government accepts this recommendation. The government recognises that the pandemic response requires a multifaceted communication strategy, capable of adapting to and addressing a variety of concerns. There were many factors that influenced public behaviour and compliance, for example, research showed that confidence in the government and trust in messaging were key determinants of compliance. The government designed behaviour change campaigns to influence behaviour in a number of specific areas including handwashing, wearing face coverings and encouraging vaccine uptake. The government worked with trusted messengers, as well as undertaking user research and reviewing the academic literature to ensure that it took the most effective course of action. This meant, for instance, working with local Directors of Public Health, and faith and community leaders to cascade guidance and information and counter misinformation. The government recognises that there are some specific areas of messaging that could have been improved. This includes providing British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation at COVID-19 press conferences and ensuring advice was available in a wide variety of languages. The government also recognises that its messaging has not reached all communities equally, and it has not always been as effective as it might have been in reaching people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and communities where English is not the first language. The government is committed to ensuring that it learns the lessons from this pandemic and takes steps to improve its messaging in future. Moving forwards, UKHSA will continue to build on the lessons learned in its health communications. They will ensure that their messaging is clear, consistent, and accessible to all, and that they work with trusted messengers to reach all communities. In addition, the government will continue to invest in research to better understand what motivates people to comply with public health advice, and how to tailor messaging to different audiences. They will also continue to work with local authorities and other partners to ensure that messaging is delivered in a way that is culturally sensitive and relevant to local communities. The government also recognises the importance of providing access to information in a range of accessible formats, for example British Sign Language, Easy Read, large print, and audio. The government will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that its messaging is accessible to everyone.
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.6 yrs
Report published 12 Oct 2021