29 December 2021
The translated version of the coronavirus review for Lapland is published weekly.
You still need to take a coronavirus test even when experiencing the mildest of symptoms, if you have the risk of being infected with a severe case of the coronavirus disease, or if you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, or you are employed in the social and health sector.
Links about the current situation:
- List of exposure sites for the last two weeks in the Lapland Hospital District
- Official instructions from Lapland to travellers who suspect they may have caught the coronavirus
- Lapland Hospital District: Help for the traveller who has received a positive COVID-19 test result
- THL: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic
- Additional guidelines, current recommendations, and restrictions for hospital districts
Lapland Hospital District
(information as of 29 December at 15:41)
The Lapland Hospital District is in the community transmission phase of the epidemic.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (13–26 December) is 561.3 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (20–26 December) is 299.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
This incidence rate also includes cases of patients who live outside the Lapland Hospital District area. For this reason, the figure can differ from that announced by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) that does not count those living outside of Lapland.
We must stick to COVID-19 safety rules and recommendations – if you have flu, do not interact other people
A total of 118 new coronavirus infections have been confirmed since the previous review. Based on the date the test was conducted, 24 of these new infections were actually from the previous week. Therefore, last week (week no. 51, 20–26 December), a total of 350 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. The proportion of positive test cases in relation to the total number of tests taken was 3.78 percent.
Review of the situation issued by the Coronavirus Coordination Group of the Lapland Hospital District on 28 December 2021:
In the Lapland Hospital District, the coronavirus situation has remained the same. In the last few weeks, approximately 300–350 new cases of infection have been detected per week. In recent days, an increase in the number of cases is evident.
Outbreaks now occur throughout the entire Lapland Hospital District in all municipalities, which would indicate that the highly infectious Omicron variant is present in the region. So far, three confirmed cases of the Omicron variant have been recorded in the Lapland Hospital District, with over ten strong suspicions of cases of the Omicron infection.
COVID-19 infections have particularly increased among young adults and middle-aged age groups. Most of the people who have become infected are non-vaccinated or have only received a single dose of the vaccine, with 30% of infected people having two doses of the vaccine. Tourists account for about 17% of the infected population in the area.
So far, the COVID-19 situation has not burdened special medical care, but municipal basic health care is in some places put under pressure due to people being employed in testing and tracing tasks. Approximately 5,000 COVID-19 tests were carried out in the hospital district last week.
It has come to our attention that there has been some relaxation of COVID-19 behaviour in the region. Both local residents and tourists alike are going to shops and meeting one another while suffering from flu. The Coronavirus Coordination Group would like to remind everyone that if you have flu, stay at home until you are well again and seek a COVID-19 test with a low threshold. Especially because of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, everyone must now remember their own personal, coronavirus-safe behaviour and prevent the spread of the disease.
As usual, all the current recommendations and restrictions valid for Lapland can be found on the www.koronaturvallinenlappi.fi website.
Further information available from
Jukka Mattila
Medical Director
Tel. 050 572 6277
Markku Broas
Infectious Disease Specialist
Tel. +358 50 347 2387
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 50 (13–19 December): 306 cases
Week no. 51 (20–26 December): 350 cases
Week no. 52 (current week): 216 cases (as of 29 December at 15:41)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 3203. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.
Infection Control Unit
***
Current vaccination coverage (updated on 29 December)
| For those aged 12 years or older | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 88.1 % | 87.0 % | 87.8 % |
| 2nd dose | 83.6 % | 82.6 % | 83.6 % |
| Whole population | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 78.2 % | 77.1 % | 77.3 % |
| 2nd dose | 74.3 % | 73.2 % | 73.6 % |
***
Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
(information as of 29 December at 13:08)
The coronavirus review for the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is mainly published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is currently in the community transmission phase of the epidemic.
Public-sector testing is intended only for people who are experiencing symptoms – those intending to travel must apply for a COVID-19 test using the private medical sector
68 new cases of the coronavirus infection have been reported in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District this week. There are now three confirmed cases of infections of the Omicron variant. However, the actual number is likely to be significantly higher.
Despite the increase in the number of cases, the situation with hospital care remains calm. There are fewer than five patients currently receiving hospital treatment for the coronavirus. Intensive care is still needed.
Tracing infections has been very burdened recently. Of last week’s local infections (95 infections) approximately three out of four were able to be traced. A large proportion of the infections were further infections within the family and close circles. In some cases, the source of exposure has not been possible to determine, which indicates that the virus is also spreading freely among the population. People are encouraged to remember the COVID-19 safety precautions, such as using a face mask.
The COVID-19 testing of the local authorities has also suffered from congestion. If you are experiencing symptoms, stay at home and seek a COVID-19 test. The hospital district reminds that testing is intended only for those suffering from coronavirus symptoms. People without symptoms should not seek to take a COVID-19 test, nor should tests be taken on the public side from those who need a COVID-19 test certificate for travel purposes.
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
Week no. 50 (13–19 December): 85 cases
Week no. 51 (20–26 December): 122 cases
Week no. 52 (current week): 68 cases (as of 29 December at 13:08)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is (figure currently being revised).
Infection Control Unit
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