DCOMM intensifies COVID-19 and Hurricane Season Public Awareness Campaigns

The Department of Communication (DCOMM), has intensified its public awareness campaigns for COVID-19 and the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Observations have been made where there are some persons within the community who are not adhering to proper public health hygiene protocols in connection with the national COVID-19 emergency. Even though the state of emergency has been lifted and the country went through four phases of re-opening, residents and the business community must adhere to public health measures that have been put in place to protect the health of the nation's communities. The wearing of face coverings, proper hand hygiene, sneeze and cough etiquette, and social distancing are key to preventing a resurgence of the COVID-19 infection. DCOMM Department Head Maurice Lake said on Tuesday that DCOMM has been active since February where COVID-19 is concerned, with a multi-level awareness campaign that further intensified over the past five-months. The campaign includes multi-language Public Service Announcements (PSAs) via various mediums (broadcast media e.g. TV, Radio, YouTube, Internet social media platforms etc.); partnered with the Community Councils, worked with several Government-owned companies; Short Videos, Flyers; SMS phone text messages, Facebook, WhatsApp messaging, the Prime Ministers National Addresses and visual posters in order to get that message out to the community districts. Various communication materials have also been prepared for the re-opening of the country's ports of entry.  These can be found on SXM GOV Radio 107.9 FM, Government's website (www.sintmaartengov.org), and the Government's YouTube and Facebook Pages. DCOMM is already looking ahead at communication activities for the next six-months related to COVID-19. A number of hurricane season communication materials have also been drafted and circulated via the Government's communication mediums. Starting this coming weekend, the Eddy Promo Public Speaker car will be driving through all districts broadcasting COVID-19 preventive measures in English, Spanish, French and Creole. The aforementioned speaker car will also drive along the main roads where many food trucks and other businesses and vendors are present re-enforcing the message of face coverings, proper hand hygiene and social distancing.  The goal is to encourage the community of Sint Maarten to remain safe and alert. As the country moves through the second month of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, five named storm systems have already formed. DCOMM implemented its hurricane season communication plan back in late May.  Since then it has increased its awareness activities by publishing press releases and various messages in the Government Information Page (GIP), on Facebook, YouTube, the Government's Website, and the SXM GOV Radio 107.9 FM. Awareness activities will increase as the country approaches the peak period of the season which is five-weeks.  Every member of the community, including the business sector, is expected to be responsible and take the necessary preventative measures. Source: sintmaartengov.org