Thursday 11 November 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 pertaining to the current situation:
Lapland’s official instructions for travellers who suspect they may have caught the coronavirus  Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL): Travel and the coronavirus pandemic
Additional guidelines, current recommendations, and restrictions for hospital districts
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL): Progress with COVID-19 vaccinations

Lapland Hospital District

(information as of 11 November at 13:42)

The Lapland Hospital District is in the baseline phase of the epidemic.

The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (25 October – 11 November) is 44.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (1–7 November) is 17.1 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.  

The cluster of infections in Muonio is expanding further

A total of 24 coronavirus infections have been detected in the Lapland Hospital District this week. In Muonio, a cluster of infections has been detected that has currently spread to 11 people. The remaining new infections for this week were mainly obtained from outside the hospital district.

Last week (week no. 44, 25–31 October), a total of 21 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. A total of 2112 coronavirus tests were taken in the Lapland Hospital District last week, with 1846 of these being rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test cases in relation to the total number of tests taken was 0.95 percent.

By 8 November, 75.9 percent of the total population of the Lapland Hospital District have received the first dose of the vaccine and 70.8 percent have received the second dose. Of the total population of Finland, 75.6 percent have received the first dose of the vaccine and 70.3 percent have received the second dose.

List of exposure sites for the last two weeks (updated on Thursday 11 November)

• Thursday 28 October K-Supermarket Kauppatori, Rovaniemi at 8:30–9:00
• Thursday 28 October Prisma, Rovaniemi at 19:15–19:45
• Friday 29 October Prisma Rovaniemi at 9:30–10:30
• Friday 29 October Minimani Rovaniemi at 11:00–11:30
• Friday 29 October Rovaniemi Police Station passport and permit office at 11:00–11:30
• Night between Friday–Saturday 29–30 October Oliver’s Corner Irish Pub, Rovaniemi at 22:00–4:00
• Saturday 30 October Sokos, Rovaniemi at 10:35–11:00
• Saturday 30 October Kotipizza Pohjolankatu, Rovaniemi at 18:30–19:45
• Saturday 30 October Scanburger (Koskikatu), Rovaniemi at 4:00–5:00
• Saturday 30 October Santa’s Pizza & Burger, Rovaniemi at 16:00–17:00
• Saturday 30 October Restaurant Comico, Rovaniemi at 16:00–18:00
• Saturday 30 October Rovaniemen Asemaravintola at around 19:30–20:00  
• Saturday 30 October Uitto Pub, Rovaniemi at 21:00–23:00
• Night between Saturday–Sunday 30–31 October Oliver’s Corner Irish Pub, Rovaniemi at 23:00–4:00
• Sunday 31 October Kotipizza Koskikatu, Rovaniemi at 4:00–5:00
• Sunday 31 October Prisma, Rovaniemi at 11:45–12:15
• Sunday 31 October Shell Rovaniemi Erottaja at around 15:00–16:00
• Sunday 31 October Prisma, Rovaniemi at 16:00–17:00
• Monday 1 November Ruokahuone Mariza, Rovaniemi at 10:00–14:00
• Tuesday 2 November Minimani Rovaniemi at 17:00–18:00
• Saturday 6 November Koivumaan Erä’s elk hunting feast, Vihreä Pysäkki, Pello at 14:00–17:00
• Tuesday 9 November SPR Kontti, Rovaniemi at around 16:30–17:00 (new)
• Tuesday 9 November Prisma, Rovaniemi at 17:00–18:00 (new)
• Wednesday 10 November Vintikki, Rovaniemi at around 10:00–10:15 (new)

It is recommended that all visitors in those locations at the times mentioned monitor their own health and seek a COVID-19 test, even if experiencing the slightest of symptoms.

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

Week no. 43 (25–31 October): 32 cases
Week no. 44 (1–7 November): 21 cases
Week no. 45 (current week): 24 cases (as of 11 November at 13:42)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 1,662. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.

Infection Control Unit

***

Länsi-Pohja Hospital District

(information as of 10 November at 12:41)
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.

Länsi-Pohja enters the community transmission phase – restrictions are being imposed

During last week, a total 84 coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District. Although the area still has good infection tracking, the sources of one fifth of the new infections for last week remain unresolved.

A total of 27 new coronavirus cases were already confirmed by Wednesday morning this week. The incidence rate based on the last two weeks in the Länsi-Pohja district is now approximately 220 per 100,000 inhabitants. Infections have also been detected with those who have received the vaccine twice.

There are currently some coronavirus patients in hospital care, but intensive care has been used yet. Patients with the COVID-19 virus also being treated at the health care centre wards.

The epidemic situation in the region has been rapidly worsening in recent weeks. The tracing of infections is already overburdened and, if the situation continues to deteriorate, there is also a risk of overburdening hospital care. The Regional Pandemic Working Group verified that Länsi-Pohja is transitioning into the community transmission phase of the epidemic.

The municipalities decide on the restrictions to be imposed

Chains of infection from restaurants and bars have been identified in the Länsi-Pohja area, which have also led to hospital treatment. Therefore, the Regional Pandemic Group refers to Government recommendations and puts forward restrictions on restaurants and bars for the whole region. For example, by using a COVID-19 passport it would be possible to visit restaurants, bars, and night clubs despite restrictions.

The Regional Task force on Pandemic recommends municipalities to limit participation in general meetings and public gatherings. The municipalities decide on the actual public gathering restrictions and these will enter into force when they are dealt with in municipal decision-making.

All COVID-19 safety measures – good hand hygiene, safe distancing, and face mask use – are still relevant. Both vaccinated and non-vaccinated people should follow them. The coronavirus recommendations currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed on the Hospital District website.

As far as the vaccination coverage is concerned, the Länsi-Pohja district is lagging behind the rest of Finland. Approximately 78.3 of all persons over the age of 12 have received two doses of the vaccine. The vaccine provides good protection against serious forms of disease caused by the coronavirus.

Vaccination appointments are well available in all municipalities. Some municipalities organise pop-up vaccination events, which also vaccinate non-residents. Municipalities inform about vaccination times on their websites.

The Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group

Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week

Week no. 43 (25–31 October): 60 cases
Week no. 44 (1–7 November): 84 cases
Week no. 45 (current week): 27 cases (as of 10 February at 12:41)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 1304.

Infection Control Unit

• 

• 

•