Thursday 3 February 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: Help for COVID-19-positive isolation and information for exposed persons
Lapland Hospital District
(information as of 3 February at 15:15)
The Lapland Hospital District is in the community transmission phase of the epidemic.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (17–30 January) is 2,514.0 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (24–30 January) is 1,276.7 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.
Infection numbers remain constant
891 new infection cases have been reported this week. At this stage, the number of new infections for this week is around the same as for last week. Most of this week’s infections have been confirmed in Rovaniemi.
Last week (17–23 January) A total of 1493 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District area. A total of 7,609 coronavirus tests were taken in the Lapland Hospital District, with 7,148 of these being rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test cases in relation to the total number of tests taken was 19.61 percent.
Review of the situation issued by the Coronavirus Coordination Group of the Lapland Hospital District on 21 January 2022
The Lapland Hospital District’s Coronavirus Coordination Group issued a recommendation on 21 January 2022 on the following issues in the area of the Lapland Hospital District:
In the Lapland Hospital District, the aim is to maintain a high level of COVID-19 testing.
Contact with infected people and their isolation by the infectious disease authorities will continue as before.
Contacting those exposed to the coronavirus and ordering these people into quarantine is a practice that is now being abandoned.
The use of FFP2 respiratory face masks by personnel is recommended for a limited period up to 28 February 2022 in the acute wards and, at the discretion of the care units.
As usual, all the current recommendations and restrictions valid for Lapland can be found on the www.koronaturvallinenlappi.fi website.
Further information available from
Jukka Mattila
Medical Director
Tel. +358 50 572 6277
Markku Broas
Infectious Disease Specialist
Tel. +358 50 347 2387
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 3 (10–16 January): 1,442 cases
Week no. 4 (24–30 January): 1,493 cases
Week no. 5 (current week): 891 cases (as of 3 February at 15:15)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 10,772. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.
Current vaccination coverage (updated on 3 February)
| For those aged 18 years or older | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 89.6% | 88.9% | 87.4% |
| 2nd dose | 86.9% | 86.0% | 84.7% |
| 3nd dose | 58.4% | 55.7% | 55.3% |
| Whole population | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 81.2% | 79.2% | 78.0% |
| 2nd dose | 76.4% | 74.9% | 73.7% |
| 3nd dose | 48.3% | 45.5% | 45.1% |
***
Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
(information as of 2 February at 13:16)
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.
Number of new infections on the rise – the COVID-19 peak has not yet been reached
245 cases of the coronavirus infection have been reported in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by Wednesday morning this week. The number of infections continues to increase. Last week a total of 650 new infections were confirmed in the area.
According to a decision taken last week, all exposed persons are no longer traced and all exposed and infected persons are no longer ordered into quarantine or isolation. If you experience even the mildest of symptoms, it is recommended to stay in isolation, but it is no longer necessary to take a COVID-19 test. However, based on the number of tests taken, people are still taking the COVID-19 test with a low threshold.
At the moment, there are 19 COVID-19 patients in hospital care. The Länsi-Pohja Central Hospital has seven coronavirus patients receiving hospital treatment, of which five are being primarily treated for COVID-19. No intensive care is needed at the moment. Health centre beds currently have 12 patients being treated, about half of whom are treated because of the COVID-19 virus infection.
In health care, staff absenteeism has increased in recent weeks. Those working in social and health care who suffer from respiratory symptoms are still encouraged to take a COVID-19 test with a low threshold. Exposed and sick social and health workers and members of their families are still subject to quarantine or isolation in accordance with the conditions of the Communicable Diseases Act. However, absences have not yet had a significant impact on the organisation of services.
Restrictions continue, vaccination is still recommended
The Regional Pandemic Working Group of Länsi-Pohja recommends that the current restrictions be maintained, as the region is currently experiencing a steep rise in infection. The COVID-19 peak has not yet been reached. These restrictions are necessary to avoid excessive increases in absenteeism and hospital workload for social and health workers. In neighbouring areas, restrictions have already been relaxed.
Restrictions on public events are decided by the Regional State Administrative Agency for Lapland There is currently a decision in place that bans all indoor public gatherings and meetings with more than 20 participants. All recommendations and restrictions currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed on the Hospital District website.
The Regional Pandemic Working Group continues to recommend vaccination against the coronavirus. The vaccine continues to provide a high level of protection against serious forms of the disease, although new variants appear to be circumventing the protection provided by the vaccine. The municipalities will provide information on their own websites about vaccinations and vaccination timetables.
The Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group
For more information, please contact: Interim Medical Director Petra Portakorva, tel. 040 168 5211
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
Week 3: approximately 450 cases
Week 4: approximately 650 cases
Week 5: (current week): 245 cases (as of 2 February at 13:16)
Infection Control Unit
Silja Ranta: Rokotuksen saaminen on cool (Getting the Vaccine is Cool)
Wilma Lohi: Rokotekapina (Vaccination Rebellion)
Lasse Katainen & Jan Åqvist: Älä sie huijo (Stop Swatting)