Thursday 10 February 2022

The translated version of the coronavirus review for Lapland is published weekly.

Anyone experiencing even the slightest of symptoms while in Lapland must take a coronavirus test immediately. The municipalities of Lapland offer free testing for people experiencing symptoms.
(Link: COVID-19 Virus Testing Strategy issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health)

Links about the current situation:

• 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: Help for COVID-19-positive isolation and information for exposed persons

Lapland Hospital District

(information as of 10 February at 15:13)

The Lapland Hospital District is in the community transmission phase of the epidemic.

The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (24 January – 6 February) is 2,537.1 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (31 January – 6 February) is 1,260.4 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.  

Infection numbers remain constant

1,157 cases of the coronavirus infection have been confirmed this week. The number of infections remains around the same as for previous weeks.

Last week (31 January – 6 February) A total of 1,575 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District area. A total of total 7,163 coronavirus tests were taken in the Lapland Hospital District, with 6,516 of these being rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test cases in relation to the total number of tests taken was 20.56 percent.  

The number of new infections for last week is around the same level as for previous weeks. Three quarters (75%) of the infections were reported in Rovaniemi.

Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week

Week no. 4 (25–31 January): 1,493 cases
Week no. 5 (1–7 February): 1,575 cases
Week no. 6 (current week): 1,157 cases (as of 10 February at 15:13)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 12613. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.

Current vaccination coverage (updated on 9 February)

For those aged 18 years or older	Lapland Hospital District	Länsi-Pohja Hospital District	Whole of Finland
1st dose	89.7%	89.0%	88.6%
2nd dose	87.1%	86.3%	86.0%
3nd dose	60.1%	58.4%	58.7%

Whole population	Lapland Hospital District	Länsi-Pohja Hospital District	Whole of Finland
1st dose	81.4%	79.4%	79.2%
2nd dose	76.5%	75.1%	74.9%
3nd dose	49.6%	47.7%	47.8%

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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District

(information as of 9 February at 12:40)
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 increased – the peak of the epidemic is still coming

In the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District, the strain put on hospitals caused by COVID-19 patients has increased slightly. The central hospital has five patients currently receiving treatment for COVID-19, half of whom are treated primarily for the coronavirus, and the other half were being treated for another illness and COVID-19 was found subsequently. There are currently no COVID-19 patients in intensive care. The health centre wards have 20 COVID-19 patients currently receiving treatment. Similarly with these cases, half were found to have the COVID-19 virus, even though they were receiving treatment for some other reason.

As a result of the coronavirus infection, there are currently 12 patients in hospital care and 13 patients were found to have COVID-19 as a secondary diagnosis. The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District estimates that the peak of the epidemic has not yet been reached in the region, but is expected to peak in the coming weeks. The area is preparing for an increase in pressure put on hospitals.

Communication of information related to the number of new infections to be stopped – in the future, the epidemic situation will be monitored according to the strain put on hospitals

We will stop providing information the numbers of new COVID-19 infections. The number of COVID-19 tests taken in the area has decreased, as people who experience minor symptoms no longer need to take a COVID-19 test. This week, nearly 40% of the tests have been positive.

The number of cases of infection is no longer indicative of the epidemic situation in the region, as the high positive rate indicates that there is much more of the COVID-19 virus present than the official figures would suggest.

In the future, we will inform you every week Wednesday of the epidemic, unless otherwise required by the prevailing situation. The epidemic situation and its development will be monitored in the future by the pressure put on hospital workload.

Isolation and quarantine decisions have been abandoned in the region, as they can no longer affect the control of the epidemic. An exception to this is the isolation and quarantine practices in place for health care and social workers, which will also change from the previous arrangements as of 9 February 2022. These amendments do not apply to decisions that have been made previously.

There are many social and health care workers who are sick or have been subjected to quarantine due to exposure despite being healthy. From time to time, urgent treatment has had to be rescheduled in different healthcare units in the Sea Lapland region due to lack of staff.

As of 9 January 2022, the quarantine practice for the social and health care personnel will be changed so that those employees who have received three doses of the vaccine (or two doses of vaccine and have already had the COVID-19 virus) are no longer quarantined, even in the case of family exposures, but will report their exposure to their manager and return to work normally.

When at work, the exposed social and health care employee shall use a valve-free FFP2-category respiratory mask to avoid unprotected contact, e.g. during breaks with other personnel, and for one week following the date of exposure. If respiratory symptoms are observed, a COVID-19 test should be taken.

The isolation practice of the social and health care personnel continues unchanged, i.e. if the employees tests positive for the COVID-19 virus, the isolation period is five (5) days from the onset of symptoms.

Normal health leave practices are in place, i.e. if you are suffering from a respiratory infection and you need a certificate, you can obtain it from the occupational health care centre or your own public health care centre during regular opening hours. The telephone and online channels should be primarily used, instead of arriving ill to fetch the certificate without prior agreement.

The acute clinic of the Länsi-Pohja Central Hospital is focusing on the treatment of emergency patients and should not be overcrowded due to the need for receiving a certificate, rather the necessary certificates must be sought during regular working hours.

It is recommended that those suffering from respiratory symptoms should remain at home for at least five days.

After two asymptomatic days at home, you can return to work or to school, as long as the time since when you first experienced symptoms is at least five (5) days.

The coronavirus infection is now very prevalent in the region, so you must follow these guidelines (at least five (5) days at home, including two (2) asymptomatic days) if you have respiratory problems, even if you have not taken a COVID-19 test.