Thursday 15 April 2021
The translated version of the coronavirus review for Lapland is published once a week.
Anyone experiencing even the slightest of symptoms while in Lapland must take a coronavirus test.
Links about the current situation:
Official instructions from Lapland to travellers who suspect they may have caught the coronavirus
THL: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic
Additional guidelines, current recommendations and restrictions for hospital districts
THL: Progress with COVID-19 vaccinations
Lapland Hospital District
(current information at 13:53)
The Lapland Hospital District is in the baseline phase of the epidemic.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (week numbers 13 and 14, 29 March – 11 April) is 13.7 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (week no. 14, 29 March – 4 April) is 6.8 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.
Despite the rarer virus variants found in the hospital district, the coronavirus situation in the area is calm
Only two cases of the infection have been confirmed this week.
Last week (week no. 14, 5–11 April 2021), a total of eight coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. A total of 4,147 coronavirus tests were taken in the Lapland Hospital District, with 3,983 of these being rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test results in relation to the total number of tests taken was 0.19%.
A person working in the restaurant sector in Rovaniemi was found to be infected by the South African virus variant. The infection was detected the week before last and the coronavirus variant was confirmed on Friday, 9 April. Mass screening has been carried out due to this case.
This previously unknown virus variation confirmed in the chain of infection found in Kemijärvi in March has been confirmed as being the American-Mexican strain of the virus. The chain of infection possibly has a connection with Central America. No new infections have been detected in the chain of infections of this variant.
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 13 (29 March – 4 April): Eight (8) cases
Week no. 14 (5–11 April): Eight (8) cases
Week no. 15 (current week): One (1) case (as of 15 April at 13:53)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 756 cases. This figure includes people who live outside the region.
Infection Control Unit
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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
(current information at 12:31)
The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is in the acceleration phase of the epidemic.
The South African coronavirus variant has been found in the Länsi-Pohja area – the acceleration phase continues
Two new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Länsi-Pohja this week. One of the infected persons is from outside the region and has returned to their own locality.
Last week, 14 coronavirus infections and five wide-ranging group exposures were detected in the Länsi-Pohja area. Approximately 250 people were quarantined. In a more detailed analysis, the South African coronavirus variant has been found in two samples that were taken last week. This variant of the coronavirus is slightly more infectious than the wild type of the coronavirus.
However, no further infections of these cases have been detected so far. There will also be a testing of asymptomatic quarantined persons this week in case of the South African coronavirus variant.
The epidemic situation in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District area is still in the acceleration phase. The current coronavirus restrictions and recommendations are valid through to 25 April 2021. The possibility of lifting restrictions will be assessed at the meeting of the Pandemic Working Group on 21 April 2021. All recommendations and restrictions related to the coronavirus currently in force in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed here and on the Hospital District website.
The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is not in favour of directing vaccines to southern Finland
The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is not in favour of directing vaccines to southern Finland. The Hospital District has issued a statement on this matter together with other northern hospital districts. Directing vaccines would be a slow way of influencing the epidemic situation.
In the Länsi-Pohja area, vaccination of people over 70 years of age has progressed well. It is estimated that all those over the age of 70 who wish to receive a vaccine will be vaccinated in the next few weeks. After this, vaccinations will continue with the risk groups, starting with the oldest age groups. Municipalities inform about vaccination matters on their websites.
Those who have received the vaccine must also continue to comply with the coronavirus recommendations and restrictions. Visitors arriving in Finland from abroad must comply with a self-imposed quarantine in the same way as for those who have not received the vaccine.
The Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
Week no. 13 (29 March – 4 April): Two (2) cases
Week no. 14 (5–11 April): 14 cases
Week no. 15 (current week): Two (2) cases (as of 15 April at 12:31)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 597.
Infection Control Unit