COVID19 is serious stuff, but we can all admit to groaning or tuning out to the worthy, accurate but mind bendingly boring ‘government’ ads. Luckily some countries and clever people are doing it differently.
Here are a few of the best that have engaged their audiences to spread the message.
An animated safety video with music by Erik and Min from the Vietnam Ministry of Health let everyone know how to give the virus the flick and even created an English version, but it became a viral sensation when Quang Dang created the #Ghencovy Challenge.
TikTok spawned thousands of posts from Vietnam and across the world.
In Japan, the Tokyo Governor Uuriko Koike’s urging for distancing kicked off the creation of the Mitsu Desu Game by Gunjo Chikin on twitter and became a viral hit.
The main character, resembling Governor Koike walks through the crowd and when tapped says “mitsu desu” which means you are close, which moves the crowd away. The goal to not let anyone in too close. When you have lost 5 face masks the game is over, a state of emergency is declared and you are asked to stay home.
If you love a good board game, now is the time to play Pandemic according to The Conversation, with Australia sales surging since isolation started. Pandemic is more than a game with a focus on cooperative strategies, creative problem solving and adaptive skills.
Two to four players play one of seven possible pandemic specialists, and through cooperative efforts, the goal of discovering of all four cures and preventing outbreaks before the game ends.
Games whether digital or analogue can provide an amazing way of engaging people, to educate and to manage the biosecurity risks.