Finnish newspaper preaches social distancing by running print ad readable from 6 feet

In a bid to advocate the practice of social distancing among masses, Finland’s biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat ran a print advertisement which is only readable from a safe distance of six feet.

“We did not want to do a traditional print that only tells people what they need to do. Instead, we wanted to offer an actual experience where people have the possibility to experiment with the distance themselves,” the newspaper’s innovation director told the brand agency.

“We believe that seeing the distance in action makes it easier for people to remember it during their next trip to their local grocery store. The impression of blurriness was created by using an optical illusion relying on visual patterns and we think it serves the purpose well,” she added.

The ingenious idea swiftly spread on the internet where instead of just telling or teaching people how to maintain a safe distance, the advertisement endorsed a stronger imprint while helping people to remember the important message for a longer period of time.

Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: You may have to practice social distancing longer than you think

Health experts around the world have stressed upon the practice of social distancing and termed as a weapon against the contagious disease.

In Finland, social distancing was long part of the Finnish culture before it became imperative. Finns already avoid bunching up in long queues and gathering in cramped places.

According to a news report published by Bloomberg, the spread of coronavirus infections has slowed sharply in Finland, to rates well below those seen in neighbouring countries, allowing the government to consider gradually easing restrictions.

The country currently has 5,984 confirmed cases of the virus with 271 deaths. Around 4,000 patients have recovered from coronavirus in Finland so far.