Scottish government’s anti-Covid advert is accused of scaremongering
‘This looks like 10 minutes after colouring with the kids!’: Scottish government’s anti-Covid advert is accused of scaremongering for showing woman giving grandfather virus by spreading filthy green slime
- Viewers slammed the anti-Covid advert released by Scottish government
- Chilling new video aims to show public how easily coronavirus can be spread
- Message warns viewers to stick to the government’s new Covid restrictions
- It comes as Nicola Sturgeon introduced restrictions on household mixing inside
Frustrated viewers have slammed the Scottish government’s anti-Covid advert and accused it of ‘scaremongering’ after it showed a woman passing coronavirus onto her grandfather.
The hard-hitting advert, complete with a horror movie soundtrack, shows the young woman contaminating her grandfather’s kitchen in green slime as she moves around to make him a cup of tea.
The chilling video aims to warn viewers just how easily the virus can be spread by using filthy green slime as a graphic visual aid and has been released by the Scottish government to encourage the public to adhere to the restrictions.
However, following its release, viewers took to social media to slam the advert, with one calling it ‘horrendous and ineffective’.
A chilling new video from the Scottish Government has been released in a bid to urge the public to adhere to the new Covid restrictions introduced this week after cases increase
The video shows the green slime spreading from the woman’s hands and face to every surface
By the end of the video, the grandfather has been ‘infected’ with the green slime from his mug
During the clip, the slime is spread from the woman’s face and hands on to the kettle, the cupboards and kitchen surfaces.
After she watches a video of what appears to be her on a night out with friends the previous night, she passes her grandfather the newly contaminated cup of tea.
The green slime ends up on the grandfather’s face after he takes a sip from the mug and says ‘lovely cup of tea’.
At the end of the video, the message warns: ‘DON’T PASS CORONAVIRUS TO THOSE YOU LOVE. 2 households, 6 people, 2 metre distance.’
The video description on Youtube also reads: ‘Remember if you are meeting with friends it should be a maximum of 6 people from 2 households at a time (up to 4 households a day). Keep 2m apart, even from your friends.’
Following the advert’s release one viewer wrote: ‘This looks like ten minutes of colouring with the kids.’
While another added: ‘Have you any idea the damage this could do if seen by a child, a child who is following you guidance and doesn’t need to be terrified into compliance.
‘I understand you need people to follow guidance but this could do more harm than good.’
One social media user commented: ‘Well done for tuning humans showing love for their family into something scary and disgusting.’
Meanwhile another said: ‘Isn’t this the most dreadful fear-mongering.’
Some viewers took to social media to slam the advert and accuse the government of ‘scaremongering’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘This hard hitting campaign, targeted specifically at 18-44 year olds, proved effective in research and highlights the risks of unknowingly spreading coronavirus to those we love.
‘The importance of this message required a bolder approach and was professionally and independently tested to be effective throughout development.’
It comes after Boris Johnson came under fire for appearing to blame the British public for the increase in coronavirus cases during his televised address this week.
Mr Johnson has blamed an increase in infections on people breaking the rules as a wave of new restrictions were introduced in a bid to curb the rise in cases.
Britain recorded 6,178 cases of coronavirus yesterday as government data shows the outbreak has risen by around 37 per cent in the space of just one week.
In Scotland, the highest ever rise in cases was recorded yesterday as 486 people tested positive in 24 hours.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the country was at its ‘tipping point’ as more measures have had to come in to slow the spread of the killer bug.
However others felt that advert was effective during a pandemic situation, with one sharing their concern for the outrage
She said it is highest single day rise since in Scotland since the beginning of the pandemic as she introduced tougher new restrictions than England.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme she said Scotland and the UK were in a ‘tough spot’.
Ms Sturgeon added: ‘If we don’t act now, urgently and decisively, then we might find Covid running out of control again.
‘The judgment I have made, and it is not an easy one, is if we take tough action now we might actually manage to be under these restrictions for a shorter period of time then we would end up being if we delayed that action.’
Nicola Sturgeon imposed a blanket ban on social mixing in households this week in Scotland
In Scotland, household mixing indoors will no longer be allowed, with exemptions for those living alone, couples not living together, childcare and tradespeople.
Nicola Sturgeon said children under 12 will be exempt from the current limit of six people from two households when meeting outside, and those between 12 and 18 will be able to meet a limit of six others from six households outdoors.
From Friday pubs, bars and restaurants must close at 10pm.
People in Scotland are also being advised against car-sharing.
Ms Sturgeon has asked people not to book any overseas travel for the half-term break unless it is essential, and to use it as an opportunity to ‘further limit social interaction’.
