Grant Shapps blocks new COVID-19 public transportation ads over concerns they’ll alert commuters

Grant Shapps Plans for new COVID public health advertisements on public transport have been blocked following concerns about intimidation of passengers.

Transport secretary accused of derailing ‘stop’ COVID-19 Hanging Around’ campaign partially.

It is a campaign designed to raise awareness about the virus and how it can spread in enclosed spaces as well as encourage people to ventilate their homes.

Sources with knowledge of the row say the campaign was also due to run on types of public transport, including buses, but it was blocked by Mr Shapps during the week. Wire.

The campaign is known as the ‘Smoke Campaign’ because it includes a film that shows how COVID can live and build on the air.

The plans are said to have been signed by officials from the health and transportation departments and the Cabinet Office, but Mr Shapps said the part of the campaign that involved public transport should be suspended.

The officials agreed to launch the campaign without additional advertisements after row.

A Whitehall source said: ‘It was signed at every level.

‘Shapes found out and said we are not doing this. It was not going anywhere so it was decided to go ahead with it, its public transport element was suspended.

Another source said Mr Shapps objected to the ads on the grounds that they could alert passengers and cause a reduction in people using public transport.

Rail operators and other transport networks have invested billions of pounds by the Department of Transportation to keep them running during the pandemic.

Sources close to Mr Shapps said on Saturday night that he himself did not object to the campaign, but was concerned about how it was crafted.

A source said they were concerned about the resemblance to black smoke as it could be misinterpreted by passengers as a warning of terrorism or fire.

Mr Shapps (pictured) objected to the ads on the grounds that they could alert passengers and cause a decline in people using public transport

It was questioned whether it was wise to get people to improve the ventilation of public transport as the windows in many buses are sealed.

The source said: ‘We have no objection to the campaign’s core message, the importance of ventilation and good practice in enclosed spaces.’

The source thought the smoke analogy was wrong as the windows in buses are sealed and it could confuse passengers.

They are looking for revision and reconsidering the messaging.

This new campaign comes amidst the government’s efforts to expedite the jabs booster programme.

This is considered important for the safety of the elderly and vulnerable members of society and will avoid the need to re-impose strict COVID restrictions.

Ministers announced last week that more than 10 million people over 50 could book a booster jab from Monday.

Slots will open up to a month in advance to speed up the rollout.

Boris Johnson is expected to hold a press conference this week confirming the government’s plans to move forward with mandatory vaccines for NHS staff.

This is a campaign (pictured) designed to raise awareness of the virus and how it can spread in enclosed spaces as well as encouraging people to ventilate their homes when they have visitors

The deadline is expected to be pushed back to the end of March after the NHS warned that there could be an exodus of staff if mandatory measures are taken during the winter, which is the busiest time.

Downing Street had planned to hold the press conference at the end of last week, but it had to be postponed because parts of the policy had not been finalised.

Sources in the health secretary, Sajid Javid, have said that he is sticking to the November 11 deadline for double immunization for social care workers.