Health departments launch #StayHomeRVA campaign

To coincide with National Public Health Week, the Henrico and Richmond health departments today launched a regional campaign to encourage citizens to commit to stay-at-home and social distancing guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and mandated by Governor Ralph Northam.

Using the #StayHomeRVA hasthag, the campaign has enlisted prominent local figured to highlight the message and help spread the word on social media. A website, http://rchd.com, also offers guidance and information about the COVID-19 virus and details about local, state and national resources.

Billboards sharing the message are going live throughout both localities in partnership with Lamar Advertising Company; they feature the campaign’s hotline number, 205-3501.

“This has been a very trying time for so many of us. The anxiety and fear that comes with a pandemic that we don’t understand and we’re having a difficult time controlling, is really challenging,” said Danny Avula, the director of the Henrico and Richmond health departments. “This is also a time where humans do amazing things. A crisis like this brings out the best in us. The decisions we make to stay away from people during this time, and ultimately to stay in our homes and stop spreading this disease, are exactly the things we need to do for our neighbors and our communities.”