As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Wisconsin continue to rise, the
“Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition launched its first ad campaign this week with an urgent message to Wisconsin residents about the crucial need for preventative measures to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the state.
In the ad, Tommy Thompson, who was Wisconsin Governor from 1987 to 2001, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 2001 to 2005, and is the current President of the University of Wisconsin (UW) System, alongside students from the University of Wisconsin System schools, encourages Wisconsin residents to stay safe. The UW System is one of the members of the
recently launched “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition.
“We’ve faced real challenges this year, and the virus continues to spread in our state. But, each of us has it in our power to turn things around,” says former Governor Thompson in the ad. “It’s time to mask up, buckle down, wash your hands, maintain social distance. C’mon Wisconsin, together we can do this.”
The initial five-figure campaign, funded by the
Healthy Wisconsin Alliance, includes a 30-second video that will run as a public service announcement on broadcast channels statewide, as well as a paid digital campaign including video and banner ads.
“As Wisconsin continues to face an uphill battle against COVID-19, it is more important now than ever that we take precautionary measures and shoulder the responsibility of protecting one another together,” said Eric Borgerding, Wisconsin Hospitals Association President and CEO. “The condition of our pandemic is visible in the alarming increase in COVID infections, and for the past month, daily new records in COVID hospitalizations, breaching the 1000 mark recently, more than tripling in the last 30 days, and so far, with no slow-down in sight. The direct and indirect impacts of COVID spread in our communities are increasingly stressing our outstanding health care system and continuing to challenge our health care heroes – those nurses, custodians, doctors, technicians and many others who keep working long hours behind masks, behind face shields, in gowns and gloves, to keep WI’s great health care accessible and safe.”
Borgerding continued, “We must do our part to curb the spread so that our health care workers and those on the front lines can do their jobs effectively. We are urging Wisconsin residents: take precautionary measures so we can all stay safe and healthy.”
The new ad campaign follows
the launch of the “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition. In the week since launch, the coalition has grown significantly to include 30 businesses, health care and advocacy groups from around the state.
You can watch the full PSA
here. Learn more about the Stop the COVID Spread! Coalition
here.