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At the outset of the pandemic, the Prime Minister’s “stay at home” order was accompanied...

Conclusion
At the outset of the pandemic, the Prime Minister’s “stay at home” order was accompanied by a public messaging campaign that clearly instructed the public to “stay home, protect the NHS, save lives”. This message was driven by regular televised press conferences from Number 10 Downing Street, during which Ministers sought to emphasise that the response was “built upon the bedrock of the best possible scientific and medical advice”.220 Professor Whitty credited this initial messaging as “absolutely essential in people understanding what needed to happen, and then doing it.”221 The message was clear in both the instruction it was giving the public, as well as plainly explaining why they were being asked to change their behaviour.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
As the report points out, public health communications are key to the public’s understanding of and compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions. Messaging from the government early in the pandemic was strong, effective, and undoubtedly contributed to the understanding of and compliance with the regulatory measures taken, including lockdown.
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.6 yrs
Report published 12 Oct 2021