Thursday 20 January 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
(information as of 20 January at 15:28)
The Lapland Hospital District is in the community transmission phase of the epidemic.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (3–16 January) is 2,561.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (10–16 January) is 1,203.9 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 number of infections remained at the same level as in previous weeks
This week, 871 new infections have been reported in the Lapland Hospital District, most of them in Rovaniemi. However, infections are still equally present in the other municipalities of the Lapland Hospital District.
Last week (10–16 January) A total of 1,409 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District area. Altogether 13666 coronavirus tests were taken in the area. The proportion of positive test cases in relation to the total number of tests taken was 11.61 percent. The proportion of tourists of the total number of infected people is falling. One fifth of the infections were confirmed with domestic and foreign tourists. More than half of the infections were found in Rovaniemi, but infections were detected in each municipality of the Lapland Hospital District.
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 1 (4–10 January): 1,614 cases
Week no. 2 (11–17 January): 1,409 cases
Week no. 3 (current week): 871 cases (as of 20 January at 15:28)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 7,817. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.
The City of Rovaniemi has stopped reporting on potential exposure sites, as in practice exposure is now possible anywhere. Health-safety behaviour is all the more important in order to curb the rapid spread of the epidemic.
- 5 January LAPLAND HOSPITAL DISTRICT: Ban on patient visits at the Lapland Central Hospital and other social and health care units
- 4 January City of Rovaniemi: COVID-19 tracking congested – the city asks people with positive test results to stay isolated
- Job vacancy: Looking for help in the municipalities of the Lapland Hospital District in fighting COVID-19, vacancies now open for Vaccinators, Tracers and Testers
Current vaccination coverage (updated on 20 January)
| For those aged 12 years or older | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 88.6% | 87.5% | 86.4% |
| 2nd dose | 84.9% | 83.9% | 82.9% |
| 3nd dose | 44.8% | 40.8% | 42.4% |
| Whole population | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 78.7% | 77.5% | 76.1% |
| 2nd dose | 75.4% | 74.3% | 73.0% |
| 3nd dose | 39.8% | 36.1% | 37.3% |
***
Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
(information as of 19 January at 15:43)
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 tracing of infections is changing in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District, and the quarantine period is also shortened
125 cases of the coronavirus infection have been reported in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by Wednesday morning this week. The incidence rate based on the last two weeks in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is now approximately 1,000 per 100,000 inhabitants. The number of infections continues to increase.
The pressure put on hospitals has also increased over the past few days. There are currently 11 coronavirus patients in hospital care, of which five are in the Länsi-Pohja Central Hospital and six staying in the health centre wards. There are currently no coronavirus patients receiving intensive care.
Infection tracing changes from Friday 21 January 2022 onwards. We will focus on contacting those with positive COVID-19 test results. They are instructed to inform close contacts outside their own family of their infection, i.e. people who have been exposed to the coronavirus infection. When contacting those infected with COVID-19, the contact details of the communicable disease nurse are given.
Exposed persons who do not have the protection provided by two vaccines against COVID-19 shall remain in quarantine for seven days. Exposed individuals will only contact the communicable disease nurse of their home municipality in the event that the exposed individual needs a formal certificate for receiving the communicable disease allowance.
Contacting the communicable disease nurse shall primarily be done by email and secondarily by SMS.
The quarantine and isolation period for exposed and sick persons will be reduced to seven days in the future. The change does not apply to quarantine and isolation decisions already issued.
Restrictions remain in place
The Regional State Administrative Agency for Lapland bans all indoor public events and public gatherings with more than 20 participants happening within its jurisdiction. This decision is valid through to 22 February 2022. In addition, the area is subject to the Restaurant restrictions set by the Government, according to which the restaurants can be open until 18:00.
All familiar COVID-19 safety measures – good hand hygiene, safe distancing, and face mask use – are still relevant. Both vaccinated and non-vaccinated people must adhere to these safety measures. All recommendations and restrictions currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed on the Hospital District website.
Vaccination has progressed well in municipalities and vaccines have also been offered to children aged 5–11 years. However, there has been a delay in the statistical testing of the vaccines given and in the transfer of vaccine data to the Kanta online service. The municipalities will provide information on their own websites about the vaccinations and timetables.
The Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group
For further information please contact: Medical Director Jyri J. Taskila, tel. +358 40 352 1097
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
Week no. 1 (4–10 January): 300 cases
Week no. 2 (11–17 January): 331 cases
Week number 3 (current week): 125 cases (as of 19 January at 15:43)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 2,885.
Infection Control Unit