Thursday 28 October 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 28 October at 14:55)

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

The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (11–24 October) is 26.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (18–24 October) is 13.7 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.   

18 new infections in the Lapland Hospital District during this week

During this week, a total of 18 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District area. Infections have been reported this week in Rovaniemi, Kolari, Kittilä, Salla, and Inari.

Last week (week no. 42, 4–10 October), a total of 16 coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. A total of 1712 coronavirus tests were taken in the Lapland Hospital District last week, with 1602 of these being rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test cases in relation to the total number of tests taken was 0.93 percent.

By 28 October, 75.6 percent of the total population of the Lapland Hospital District have received the first dose of the vaccine and 68.9 percent have received the second dose.
Of the total population of Finland, 75.2 percent have received the first dose of the vaccine and 68.5 percent have received the second dose.

List of exposure sites for the last two weeks (updated on Wednesday 27 October)

• Thursday 14 October K-Supermarket Rinteenkulma, Rovaniemi at 20:40–20:55
• Thursday 14 October Uitto Pub, Rovaniemi at 21:00–22:00
• Friday 15 October Friends & Brgrs, Rovaniemi at 10:00–15:30
• Friday 15 October Sinetän K-market, Rovaniemi at 11:30–12:00
• Friday 15 October Alko Rovaniemi town centre at 19:00–19:30
• Friday 15 October Lidl Teollisuuskylä, Rovaniemi at 19:00–21:00
• Friday 15 October Sale Lapinmaa, Rovaniemi at 19:45–20:00
• Friday 15 October Uitto Pub, Rovaniemi at 20:40–21:00
• Saturday 16 October Uitto Pub, Rovaniemi at 0:00–1:00
• Saturday 16 October McDonald’s, Rovaniemi at 1:00–1:15
• Saturday 16 October Prisma, Rovaniemi at 9:00–11:00 
• Saturday 16 October Tokmanni Eteläkeskus, Rovaniemi at 9:00–11:00 
• Saturday 16 October Revontuli Shopping Centre, Rovaniemi at 10:00–13:00
• Saturday 16 October Lidl Saarenkylä, Rovaniemi at 14:00–17:00
• Saturday 16 October Citymarket Rovaniemi at 14:00–17:00 
• Saturday 16 October Sale Lapinmaa, Rovaniemi at 15:00–15:15
• Saturday 16 October K-Market Sahanperä, Rovaniemi at around 19:00–20:00
• Friday 15 October Sinetän K-market, Rovaniemi at 11:30–12:00
• Monday 18 October Puuilo, Rovaniemi at 9:00–10:00
• Monday 18 October Motonet, Rovaniemi at 10:00–10:30
• Monday 18 October Helmikammari, Rovaniemi at 10:00–14:00
• Monday 18 October Prisma, Rovaniemi at 11:00–12:00
• Tuesday 19 October Helmikammari, Rovaniemi at 10:00–14:00
• Tuesday 19 October Sinetän K-market, Rovaniemi at 12:00–12:30
• Thursday 21 October Sinetän K-market, Rovaniemi at 8:00–8:30
• Thursday 21 October Lunch buffet restaurant Da Zhong Hua, Rovaniemi at 12:00–13:00
• Thursday 21 October Ranua Zoo, info building restaurant at 11:30–13:00
• Saturday 23 October Rantavitikan Sale, Rovaniemi at around 12:00–12:30 (new)
• Saturday 23 October Tehdasasu, Rovaniemi at around 13:00–13:45 (new)
• Saturday 23 October Minimani, Rovaniemi at 17:30–18:15
• Sunday 24 October Rovaniemi’s main church at 10:00–12:00
• Sunday 24 October Tokmanni Rovaniemi Eteläkeskus at 15:45–16:15

It is recommended that all visitors at the times mentioned in those locations 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. 41 (11–17 October): 15 cases
Week no. 42 (18–24 October): 16 cases
Week no. 43 (current week): 18 cases (as of 28 October at 14:55)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 1,604. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.

Infection Control Unit

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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District

(information as of 27 October at 12:08)
The coronavirus review for the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is mainly published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is in the acceleration phase of the epidemic.

Regional Pandemic Working Group: The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is falling behind in vaccination coverage

During last week, a total of 44 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District, approximately half of which were infections reported with people already in quarantine. In around 25 percent of cases, the source of the infection remained unclear. More than 200 people were placed in quarantine last week.

This week, 13 new infections have been recorded in the area by Wednesday morning. The incidence rate based on the last two weeks in the Länsi-Pohja district is now approximately 118 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The epidemic situation in the region has deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks in terms of the number of infections. In Tornio in particular, the situation is serious. However, there are currently no coronavirus patients in hospital care.

It is recommended for people to take the vaccine before the beginning of the festive season

Coronavirus infections have also been detected with people who have been vaccinated. However, among non-vaccinated people, the incidence rate is distinctly higher. The vaccine also provides good protection against serious forms of disease caused by the coronavirus.

The vaccination coverage in the Länsi-Pohja district is currently slightly lower than the average in Finland. In recent weeks, fewer people have sought vaccination, but there are small differences in the vaccination coverage between municipalities. In Finland, 85.3 percent of people over the age of 12 years have received one vaccine dose and 77.2 percent have received two vaccine doses. In the Länsi-Pohja district, the corresponding figures are 83.7 and 74.1 percent.

The Regional Pandemic Working Group stresses the importance of vaccination, particularly in view of the forthcoming festive season. There are plenty of available appointment times for vaccination in the municipalities, and it is worth taking the vaccine before Christmas and the other festive days of the season.

Both vaccinated and non-vaccinated persons should continue to follow familiar coronavirus safety measures, good hand hygiene, safe distancing, and the use of face masks.

Where possible, remote working is still recommended and, for example, remote attendance at meetings is also recommended.

The coronavirus recommendations currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed on the Hospital District website.

The Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group

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

Week no. 41 (4–10 October): 33 cases  
Week no. 42 (4–10 October): 44 cases
Week number 43 (current week): 13 cases (as of 27 October at 12:08)  

The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 1,126.

Infection Control Unit

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