Friday 18 February 2022
The translated version of the coronavirus review for Lapland is published weekly.
Links about the current situation:
- THL:COVID-19 cases, state of hospital care, and deaths
- THL: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic
- Additional guidelines, current recommendations, and restrictions for hospital districts
Lapland Hospital District
(Information as of 18 February)
The Lapland Hospital District no longer reports the number of new coronavirus infections. In the future, the status of the departmental workload will be communicated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This figure includes potential intensive care patients as well as patients admitted for other reasons who have later been found to have the coronavirus.
The Lapland Hospital District is in the community transmission phase of the epidemic.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (31 January – 13 February) is 2,739 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (7–13 February) is 1,478.6 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.
New COVID-19 practices in the Lapland Hospital District: those who test positive for the coronavirus are no longer isolated and will be tested only on medical grounds
As of yesterday, the Lapland Hospital District moved on to normal sickness absence practices for those infected, i.e. the people affected by COVID-19 shall no longer be ordered into quarantine. However, if you experience symptoms, you must stay at home while ill and avoid contact with other people until symptoms alleviate. Municipalities and employers will provide further guidance on sick leave practices. The sick leave term for those who have contracted the coronavirus infection is at least five (5) days.
In addition, it has been decided today in the Lapland Hospital District, to make the transition to COVID-19 testing on medical grounds. Infection tracing has also stopped.
COVID-19 test criteria change
The criteria are: patient’s symptoms and need for treatment, protection of groups at risk of serious diseases and safeguarding health care capacity. Medication is available for the COVID-19 infection to reduce the need for hospital care/mortality.
A healthcare professional will assess the need for testing for persons belonging to the following risk groups:
- Pregnant and symptomatic persons who have given birth less than six (6) weeks earlier
- Social and health care professionals suffering symptoms
- The inhabitants/patients of the social and health care unit professionals suffering symptoms
- Patients to be admitted to wards are screened in emergency units using rapid antigen tests, regardless of the reason for being admitted. PCR verification is taken from an infectious or antigen-positive symptom sufferer.
- Exposed social and health care workers daily for five (5) days after the last exposure.
Due to the change in the COVID-19 testing practices, the number of coronavirus positive results no longer reflect the number of actual infections and therefore the daily levels of infection are no longer reported on the koronaturvallinenlappi.fi website. From now on, the numbers of new COVID-19 infections are to be found in the report issued by the Institute for Health and Welfare.
The Lapland Hospital District will continue to report on the departmental workload on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Currently there are 10 coronavirus patients receiving hospital treatment in the Lapland Central Hospital. This figure includes potential intensive care patients as well as patients admitted for other reasons who have later been found to have the coronavirus.
Current vaccination coverage (updated on 18 February)
| For those aged 18 years or older | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 89.8% | 89.1% | 88.6% |
| 2nd dose | 87.2% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 3nd dose | 61.1% | 59.9% | 60.0% |
| Whole population | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 81.5% | 79.5% | 79.4% |
| 2nd dose | 76.8% | 75.3% | 75.1% |
| 3nd dose | 50.6% | 49.0% | 48.9% |
***
Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
(Information as of 16 February)
The coronavirus review for the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is mainly published on Wednesdays. The hospital district will no longer publish the numbers of new infections, but in the future, the epidemic situation and its development will be monitored according to the strain put on hospitals.
The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is currently in the community transmission phase of the epidemic.
The pressure put on hospitals has remained moderate – the peak of the epidemic has not yet been reached
There have been no significant changes in the pressure put on hospitals caused by the coronavirus in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District in recent weeks. However, preparations have been made for an increase in hospital pressure in the region.
There are currently 18 patients receiving hospital care in the region, of whom one third are treated in the Länsi-Pohja Central Hospital. For all these patients, the coronavirus infection is the primary cause of the treatment, but intensive care is not needed at the moment. The health centre wards have 14 patients receiving treatment, nine of which are treated primarily because of the coronavirus.
During week no. 6 (7–13 February), less than 1,000 coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District. Approximately 40% of all tests taken in the region were positive. However, the number of new infections no longer reflects the real epidemic situation, as it is no longer necessary to seek a coronavirus test. There are therefore likely to be many more infections than the official figures indicate.
It is estimated that the number of cases is still increasing and the peak of the epidemic has not yet been reached in the region. All familiar coronavirus safety measures – hand hygiene, safe distancing, and face mask use – are still relevant, as the disease is currently more prevalent than ever before during the epidemic.
The slowdown in the vaccination rates is a cause for concern
The Regional Pandemic Working Group is concerned that the number of people taking the third vaccine has decreased. Even though people who have received the vaccine may become ill, the vaccine still provides protection against the very serious forms of disease and hospitalisation. Plenty of vaccination appointments are available in municipalities, and information about vaccinations is reported by the municipalities on their own websites and in other places.
COVID-19 testing points have been congested in the region in recent days. Therefore, the municipalities in the region will stop doing PCR verifications. If a person needs a PCR test, for example for the purpose of travel or EU COVID-19 certification, this must be obtained and paid for using the private health care sector.
All recommendations and restrictions currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed on the Hospital District website.
The Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group
For further information please contact: Medical Director Jyri J. Taskila, tel. 040 352 1097