As the COVID-19 Coronavirus disease continues to affect us, it’s important to remind ourselves what we can do for prevention and in case we get sick. To help you with this, we assembled the WHO (World Health Organization) advice for the public about COVID-19 into a series of 5 SMS messages, ready to copy and paste. You can send these messages using the engageSPARK platform or in any other SMS platform of your choice; or even send them with your phone!
If you’re just looking for a short and sweet blast to send out, check this compact SMS Blast template.
Read the Letter from our CEO, announcing significant discounts on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) communications.
We checked each message to ensure that none of them contains expensive Unicode characters. These messages are good to go. The first series is the unabridged, verbatim WHO advice—which unfortunately makes every message quite long and more expensive. That’s why we also provide a shortened version below, where each message amounts to only 1 SMS part (except for the last text message, which is 2 parts).
Unabridged Message Series
Messages 2-6 contain unabridged WHO advice.
Message 1: Intro (1-part SMS)
Stay safe from the COVID-19 Coronavirus. In the next 5 messages, we’ll send you advice from the WHO (World Health Org). Let’s together prevent further spread.
Message 2: Hand Washing (2-part SMS)
Wash your hands frequently.
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Message 3: Social Distancing (3-part SMS)
Maintain social distancing.
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Message 4: Don’t Touch Your Face (2-part SMS)
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Message 5: Coughing & Sneezing (3-part SMS)
Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Message 6: Seek medical care early (4-part SMS)
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Shortened Message Series
Message 1: Intro (1-part SMS)
Stay safe from the COVID-19 Coronavirus. In the next 5 messages, we’ll send you advice from the WHO (World Health Org). Let’s together prevent further spread.
Message 2: Hand Washing (shortened 1-part SMS)
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water to kill viruses that may be on your hands.
Message 3: Social Distancing (shortened 1-part SMS)
Stay at least 1m (3 ft) away from anyone coughing or sneezing. They may expel liquid droplets that contain the virus, and you may breathe in these droplets.
Message 4: Don’t Touch Your Face (shortened 1-part SMS)
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Your hands touch many surfaces and pick up viruses. Your hands can then transfer viruses to your face and into your body.
Message 5: Coughing & Sneezing (shortened 1-part SMS)
Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the tissue immediately. Remember that droplets spread viruses.
Message 6: Seek medical care early (shortened 2-part SMS)
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Call in advance so your health care provider can direct you to the right facility. Follow your local health authority’s directions, as they’ll have the most up-to-date info and can help protect you.