Thursday 16 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:

Lapland Hospital District

(information as of 16 December at 15:57)

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

The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (29 November – 12 December) is 385.1 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (6–12 December) is 240.4 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.

The entire Lapland Hospital District is now a community transmission area – restrictions are coming

A total 168 new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed this week. Infections have been observed throughout the hospital district, but Rovaniemi continues to be the leading place in the hospital district for infections.

Last week (week no. 49, 6–12 December), a total of 281 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. A total of 8,271 coronavirus tests were taken in the Lapland Hospital District, with 7,185 of these being rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test cases in relation to the total number of tests taken was 3.40 percent.

The Lapland Hospital District’s Coronavirus Coordination Group stated on Tuesday, 14 December. That the whole hospital district meets the criteria for a community transmission area. In this context, the Government will discuss the restaurant restrictions to be imposed on the area on Thursday 16 December.

In addition, the Regional State Administrative Agency of Lapland is preparing a decision on assembly restrictions for the municipalities of Inari, Kittilä and Kolari. The decision prohibits the organisation of public events and public gatherings of more than 20 people. The final decision on the restrictions of assembly is scheduled to be adopted by Thursday 16 December at the latest, with effect from Saturday 18 December.
Press Release issued by the Regional State Administrative Agency for Lapland on 14 December

Exposure sites

Here you can see the full list of exposure sites over the last two weeks

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. 48 (29 November – 5 December): 169 cases
Week no. 49 (6–12 December): 281 cases
Week number 50 (current week): 168 cases (as of 16 December at 15:57)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 2495. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.

Infection Control Unit

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Current vaccination coverage (updated on 16 December )

For those aged 12 years or older	Lapland Hospital District	Länsi-Pohja Hospital District	Whole of Finland
1^st dose	87.6%	86.6%	87.4%
2^nd dose	83.1%	81.8%	83.0%

Vaccination coverage in the population for people aged 12 years or over

Whole population	Lapland Hospital District	Länsi-Pohja Hospital District	Whole of Finland
1^st dose	77.7%	76.7%	77%
2^nd dose	73.7%	72.5%	73%

Vaccination coverage for the whole population

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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District

(information as of 15 December at 13:09)
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.

The source of infection in the Länsi-Pohja area often remains unknown

32 new cases of the coronavirus infection have been reported in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District this week. No cases of the Omicron have so far been identified in the region. There are currently seven patients receiving hospital care, six of whom are in the central hospital. Intensive care is also required in the area.

Two thirds of last week’s infections were reported with both non-vaccinated or poorly vaccinated persons. Last week, 269 people were placed in quarantine. Only 60% of last week’s local infections (59 infections) were able to be traced.

In most unknown cases, the person did not know where their exposure occurred. This indicates that the disease is moving freely and in abundance, and exposure to the virus can occur anywhere. For this reason, the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District does not systematically report exposure sites. The hospital district continues to recommend that all people with any infection symptoms should go and take a COVID-19 test.

The number of infections of people who have received two doses of the vaccine has increased over the last two weeks. However, the disease is generally mild for those who have been vaccinated. The risk of hospitalisation for people who have not received the vaccine is about 20 times greater than for vaccinated persons, with the risk of being admitted into intensive care more than 30 times greater.

In the light of the above information, we strongly recommend that you take the coronavirus vaccine and that you continue to abide by all COVID-19 safety measures. In addition, as the disease is wide-spread, we recommend that you download the Koronavilkku app for your phone.

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

Week no. 48 (29 November – 5 December): 61 cases
Week no. 49 (6–12 December): 59 cases (as of 15 December at 13:10)
Week no. 50 (current week): 32 cases (as of 15 December at 13:10)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 1,600.

Infection Control Unit