Short Blog Six: St. Patrick’s Day COVID-19 Public Messaging at Queen’s University
Each year, Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario notoriously holds one of the country’s largest St.Patrick’s Day gatherings, drawing in national crowds and filling the streets of downtown Kingston. In anticipation of party-goers that will not adhere to the region’s COVID-19 guidelines, the university teamed up with KFL&A Public Health to create the above infographic to prevent the spread of the virus.
The clever messaging reminds students that there is always a chance of contracting or spreading the virus, so as to not depend on luck. However, the acknowledgment of avoiding large crowds insinuates that there will be large crowds in the first place. By directly stating the region’s COVID-19 group restrictions, for example, “Remember to not meet in groups larger than 5 people, and maintain your distance”, the likelihood of large crowds spreading the virus could significantly decrease, maintaining the region’s impressive management of the pandemic.
