During yesterday’s COVID-19 update, the Victorian Government rolled out its new COVID-19 ad campaign featuring people discussing what it’s like being infected with the virus.
The campaign was created by M&C Saatchi Melbourne. You can watch the ad here.
It features a young mother who said she felt “incapacitated” four weeks after contracting the disease, with another woman said she had nerve damage in her right hand.
A young survivor called Sarah said she had been isolating away from her two boys to keep them safe.
“Being separated from them for five or six weeks now has been incredibly hard,” she said.
“It’s absolutely heart wrenching hearing them say, ‘mummy, why people are doing the wrong things? Why isn’t the coronavirus going away.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said he hoped the campaign would remind Victorians anyone can be hit with the virus.
“It is a matter of life and death, and it is the greatest challenge that we have ever faced,” he said.
He also said he hoped the ads would make young people take the virus seriously.
“This is about trying to tell a story to as many Victorians as possible that this virus does not, in any way, discriminate between people based on their age, based on their otherwise healthy status.”
A Victorian Government spokesperson said: “The Victorian Government is working with M&C Saatchi to highlight the stories of coronavirus survivors to underscore the seriousness and long-term physical and psychological consequences of the virus.
“The experience of coronavirus survivors highlights that the virus does not discriminate based on age, location or background.
“The latest stories from the campaign feature the experiences of Sam, Sarah and June with coronavirus and the significant health impacts they have had and continue to face.
“They provide a timely reminder for all Victorians about the need to adhere to current restrictions to help slow the spread of the virus.”
