Comedian Frankie Boyle has poked fun at the government’s new advice to “stay alert” during the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to deliver a speech that will tell the UK to “stay alert, control the virus and save lives”, rather than the “stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives” message was deployed at the start of the lockdown.
Attempting to explain the new message, communities secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC it will mean “stay alert by staying at home as much as possible”.
His explanation was met by further accusations that the new slogan is confusing.
Boyle, who has provided a running commentary on the UK government’s handling of Covid-19 via his Twitter account, wrote: “’Stay alert’ to virus 0.125 microns in diameter, advises government scientist Doctor Manhattan.”
The previous day, Boyle tweeted: “The government’s messaging on lockdown has had all the clarity of the hokey cokey.”
Other comedians on Twitter have expressed bemusement at the new slogan, while others have made their own versions of the government poster.
In Boyle’s native Scotland, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will continue to deliver the “stay at home” messaging to the Scottish public.
“It is of course for [Johnson] to decide what’s more appropriate for England, but given the crucial point we are at in tackling the virus, #StayHomeSaveLives remains my clear message to Scotland at this stage,” she tweeted.
