A New ‘Care And Common Sense’ Approach To Covid-19

Photo by OC Gonzalez on Unsplash

Find out how PassageWay’s real-time COVID-19 digital signage software uses nudge theory to encourage personal responsibility and reduce the risk of virus transmission.

As lockdown continues to lift across the UK and vaccination protects more of the population, the emphasis is increasingly shifting away from strict government rules to reduce the risk of COVID-19.

Instead, we’ll have increasing freedom to make our own risk-based judgments about the probability of catching the virus in different situations.

Hugging with caution

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that while social distancing rules may remain for public places, people can now exercise their own judgement in private – while remembering that some may remain more vulnerable to Covid-19 than others.

When asked about hugging in a recent press conference Johnson said:

‘People should do it if you think it’s appropriate, if you think the risks are very, very low. But you should exercise care and common sense. And clearly with unvaccinated people there must be a greater risk of transmission than with those who have had vaccination.’

Encouraging safe behaviour

As further rules are relaxed it will become increasingly important to nudge individuals with information about their environment and highlight guidance still in place. This can provide the reminder people need to adjust their behaviour or make a risk assessment about what they should do to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to themselves and others.

By sharing short, simple and friendly location-specific safety prompts, PassageWay’s real-time COVID-19 digital signage software can help encourage people to act in a way that could help reduce virus transmission. It works on almost any type of Internet-connected screens including Smart TVs, a monitor linked to a desktop, a laptop, a digital totem or a kiosk – turning it into a source of constantly updating, hyper-local COVID-19 guidance from only £15 per month.

Making good decisions easier

Whether it’s located in a gym, cinema, high-street shop or school, a digital sign powered by PassageWay displays the current R rate wherever it is, as well as the latest number of local cases. This can help people take greater note of particular behavioural advice when visiting – especially if the prevailing R number or case rate is high.

As PassageWay refreshes multiple times a day, signs will always display the latest COVID-19 safety information tailored for the type of premises they’re in. Custom content can be added including branding, thank you messages and prompts to visit a website. All of which makes the information displayed feel much more relevant and specific to the reader, and much harder to ignore.

This follows the concept of ‘nudge theory’ – an idea first made popular by behavioural economist Richard Thaler and political scientist Cass Sunstein. They believed that rather than forcing people to do things, you tweak or ‘nudge’ the environments in which they make choices so that it’s much easier for them to make decisions that are broadly in the self-interest of themselves, their families and society.

Get in touch and find out more how it can work for your business.