Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus
WHO, FIFA launch joint campaign to equip football community to tackle COVID-19
Geneva, 23 March 2020: FIFA,
the international governing body of football, and the World Health
Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19)
by launching a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers,
who are calling on all people around the world to follow five key steps
to stop the spread of the disease.
The
“Pass the message to kick out coronavirus” campaign promotes five key
steps for people to follow to protect their health in line with WHO
guidance, focused on hand washing, coughing etiquette, not
touching your face, physical distance and staying home if feeling
unwell.
“FIFA
and its President Gianni Infantino have been actively involved in
passing the message against this pandemic since the very beginning,”
said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the virtual
launch of the campaign at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. “Be
it through campaigns or funding, FIFA has stood up to the coronavirus,
and I am delighted that world football is supporting WHO to kick out the
coronavirus. I have no doubt with this type of support that together we
will win.”
“We
need teamwork to combat the coronavirus,” said FIFA President Gianni
Infantino. “FIFA has teamed up with WHO because health comes first.
I call upon the football community worldwide to join us in supporting
this campaign to pass the message even further. Some of the greatest
players to have played the beautiful game have put their names to the
campaign and are united in their desire to pass the message to kick out
COVID-19.”
Twenty-eight players are involved in the video campaign, which is being published in 13 languages.
Sami
Al Jaber (KSA), Alisson Becker (BRA), Emre Belözoğlu (TUR), Jared
Borgetti (MEX), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Iker Casillas (ESP), Sunil
Chhetri (IND), Youri Djorkaeff (FRA), Han Duan (CHN), Samuel Eto’o
(CMR), Radamel Falcao (COL), Laura Georges (FRA), Valeri Karpin (RUS),
Miroslav Klose (GER), Philipp Lahm (GER), Gary Lineker (ENG), Carli
Lloyd
(USA), Lionel Messi (ARG), Mido (EGY), Michael Owen (ENG), Park Ji-sung
(KOR) , Carles Puyol (ESP), Célia Šašić (GER), Asako Takakura (JPN),
Yaya Touré (CIV), Juan Sebastián Verón (ARG), Sun Wen (CHN) and Xavi
Hernández (ESP).
A
video campaign, which will be published on player and FIFA digital
channels, is also being provided as individual localized files to the
211 FIFA member associations and media agencies, together with a
graphics toolkit for implementation on social media to further pass the
message.
Hands:
“It
starts with your hands,” says Alisson Becker, WHO Goodwill ambassador
for health
promotion, Liverpool FC and Brazil goalkeeper, and The Best FIFA Men's
Goalkeeper, 2019. “Please wash your hands frequently with soap and water
or an alcohol-based solution.”
Such
frequent washing with soap and water, or preferably with an
alcohol-based hand solution, kills viruses that may be on your hands. It
is simple, but it is very important.
Elbows:
“Cover
your nose and mouth with a bent elbow or tissue when you sneeze or
cough,” says Carli Lloyd two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner from the
United States. “Dispose of tissue immediately and wash your hands.”
Droplets spread the coronavirus. By following respiratory
hygiene, you protect the people around you from contracting viruses,
such as cold, flu and coronavirus.
Face:
“Avoid
touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent
the virus from entering your body,” adds FC Barcelona and Argentina
forward Lionel Messi, The Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2019, and a multiple
FIFA Ballon d’Or winner.
Hands
touch too many surfaces and can quickly pick up viruses. Once
contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your face, from where the
virus can move inside your body, making you feel unwell.
Distance:
“In
terms of social interaction, take a step back,” says Han Duan, who
represented China PR 188 times in an international career that spanned
11 years. “Stay at least one metre distance from others.”
By
maintaining such social distancing, you are helping to avoid breathing
in any droplets from someone who sneezes or coughs in close proximity.
Feel – know your symptoms:
“If
you feel unwell, stay home,” concludes Samuel Eto’o, former FC
Barcelona and Cameroon striker, who represented his country 114 times.
“Please follow all instructions provided by your local health
authorities.”
If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.
Keep
informed as local health authorities provide the latest information on
the situation in your area. Please follow their specific instructions,
and call in advance to allow them to direct you to the appropriate local
health facility. This serves to protect you and to help prevent the
spread of virus and other infections.
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