The public health messages designed to help people protect themselves from the coronavirus have been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Solidarity and Health and the government’s information service. This joint effort ensures that the messages are consistent and easily understandable by everyone. The first messages were developed as early as late February. All messages have been approved by the Ministry. It is important to note that scientific knowledge about the coronavirus is evolving rapidly, so the challenge is to refine these messages, adapt them, and produce them quickly. This is truly a race against time.

We rely on scientific monitoring—in other words, on prevention measures that have proven effective. The coronavirus is a respiratory virus, and we draw on what we know about how such viruses, including the flu, are transmitted to propose methods of protection and prevention.

We also rely on all the measures taken in other countries and the recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organization). We believe it is important to have consistent messages across countries.

Santé publique France participates in perception studies among the general public as well as among healthcare professionals. These studies are important for monitoring public opinion and understanding public needs, as well as for assessing the stress levels of the general public and healthcare professionals.

Furthermore, prevention messages were tested prior to production with a panel composed of agency staff members who do not work on issues related to the coronavirus, in order to obtain unbiased feedback. This panel is a valuable tool for measuring the understanding and acceptance of the proposed measures.

We are currently working on additional messages regarding “social distancing” that will appear on new posters and TV spots, in order to introduce the new guidelines: no kissing, no handshaking, and avoiding other physical contact that could spread the virus.

One of the challenges we face is adapting and producing content very quickly, since knowledge about this virus is evolving rapidly, as are the guidelines.

Given the international scope of the situation, we are closely monitoring the messages being communicated by other countries. For example, in English-speaking countries, it is recommended to cough or sneeze into your elbow or into a tissue. We will therefore include this guidance in our upcoming communications.

We are also currently working on messages regarding “guidelines” for healthcare professionals to answer their questions: how do I protect myself, how do I protect my patients, how should I refer my sick patients, etc., as well as messages for patients who have questions about their symptoms: should I stay home and contact my doctor, if my condition worsens, who should I call, etc. These messages will complement our print and audiovisual communications.

Efforts are also being made to reach specific audiences, such as non-French-speaking individuals who may not understand our visuals or simply our language, as well as those with sensory or other disabilities. The television messages are accompanied by sign language translations, but we also plan to adapt these messages for special phones designed for the visually impaired. Special attention is being paid to the most vulnerable groups (people living on the streets) in collaboration with the organizations responsible for their care.

Finally, teams are working on developing guidelines for different life situations—such as travel, work, and children—with several options, so that everyone can adapt to their specific situation and ensure these measures remain acceptable over the long term. The population-based approach is also very important.

Since everyone is affected in their daily lives, all prevention messages are designed to adapt to the evolving nature of the epidemic.

As early as late February, Santé publique France reached out to all healthcare professionals via digital channels: banners on professional websites, newsletters from medical societies, and advisories from the Order of Physicians, etc. The goal was to direct professionals to the website of the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, which serves as a central hub for information on both the virus and recommended guidelines.

In phase two, as the virus began to spread, it became necessary to promote preventive measures and address the general public’s need for information and protection. That is why we developed a set of informational materials: posters, videos, and radio messages on “precautionary measures”—coughing and sneezing into your elbow, using disposable tissues, wearing a mask if you are sick, etc. The Ministry requisitioned audiovisual airtime from the CSA. Spontaneously, many broadcasters and private operators (RATP, SNCF, etc.) reached out to us to broadcast these messages free of charge.

Once again, Santé publique France, the Ministry, and the CNAM (National Health Insurance Fund) have coordinated to distribute all these materials to each of their respective partners, with the aim of disseminating them as widely as possible.

In addition to adapting the messages as the epidemic evolves, we are working to ensure that every audience is fully informed.