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On Tuesday, the government introduced a letter system in which the level of measures is divided into A, B, C and D. A represents a particularly high level of measures while D represents a somewhat high level of measures.
Rhetoric expert Kjell Terje Ringdal understands the challenges of government, but at the same time points out the challenges of communicating different systems like this one.
– The government has no easy task. Is it is Complicated. But now it has become so difficult with all the codes that many may fail to understand the entire message, Ringdal tells Dagbladet and continues:
– Now it’s like a puzzle with codes, colors and numbers. A kind of “Da Vinci code” with a color-coding system, in the style of traffic lights, rings and letters, will not be easy for either the sender or the recipient of the message.
The letter system
Recently, the government introduced a ring system in which the municipalities are divided into ring 1 and ring 2. This replaced the terms surrounding municipalities and peripheral zone municipalities, and represents which municipalities are directly affected and which municipalities are indirectly affected. The system has been used in connection with the introduction of infection control measures against the spread of mutated virus variants.
The government emphasizes that the ring system is only geographical indications, while the letter system represents the level of action chosen for the affected municipalities based on the severity of the outbreak.
Measurement level A represents a particularly high level of measurements, B represents a high level of measurements, C represents a fairly high level of measurements, and D represents a somewhat high level of measurements.
For example, measure level C is now being introduced in Ring 1 municipalities of Oslo, Sarpsborg and Halden, while measure level D is being introduced in Ring 2 municipalities of Nordre Follo and Ås.
– Rhetoric is about finding a common “we”, a way of speaking that is understood and accepted. The gods know how to simplify something that is so complicated, but common “knowledge” is not easy to find in the current situation, says rhetoric expert Ringdal.
Support the system
Associate Professor Trond Blindheim in Marketing Communication at Kristiania University College points out to Dagbladet that a message can never be simplified enough.
– A message should be simplified until it is impossible to misinterpret it. The better the information reaches the audience, the greater the probability that they will comply with it. In keeping with that, I think the new numbers and the letter system the government uses are communicated easily and logically, he says.
It also makes the following suggestions:
– Perhaps the new way of reporting would have been even easier if Bent Høie or Espen Nakstad stood in front of a pandemic map of Norway every day after the news, as meteorologists do when they report the weather. Then, with the help of magnetic labels showing virus attacks, they could show us the seriousness of the situation across the country. The audience probably would have understood one then better than today’s numbers and letter pedagogy.
– Wastes valuable time
The color system
In addition to the ring system and letter system, the government has also introduced a color system for action levels in schools and infection pressure in other countries and regions. For example, the red action level in schools is the highest action level, while countries and regions with particularly high infection pressure are also called red.
The government has also presented five levels of preparedness. For each level of contingency from one to five, there are proposals for action packages that are adapted to the different levels of contingency.
High responses
Dagbladet has contacted the Ministry of Health and Care Services, which has yet to comment on the new letter system. However, Health Minister Bent Høie has commented on the letter system to the NTB news agency.
– I understand very well that when there are changes in the infection situation and measures, it takes time before people realize it, Høie tells NTB and explains the need for a letter system:
– Ring 1 and Ring 2 are because we need to describe the area where the measurements are applied. The point is that some have thought that ring 1 should automatically have a particularly high level of action, but that is not true.
The Government has stated in its long-term strategy to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic that clear communication about infection control measures is essential to increase confidence in them.
“Good and clear communication is essential to maintain public confidence and motivation about important personal infection control measures. Communication should lead the way, build trust, impart knowledge, provide predictability, and build community. A high Continuous degree of accessibility, openness and presence in the media, social networks and online will be important measures to be successful in this.
