Thursday 3 June 2021
The translated version of the coronavirus review for Lapland is published once a week.
Everyone staying in Lapland must take a coronavirus test even with the slightest of symptoms that are related to the coronavirus.
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
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (17–30 May) is 3.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (24–30 May) is 0.9 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.
Only one coronavirus infection reported in the Lapland Hospital District this week
Last week (week no. 21, 24–30 May), a one (1) coronavirus infection was confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. One case was also confirmed this week.
A total of 3,575 coronavirus tests were taken last week, of which 3,458 were rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test results in relation to the total number of tests taken was 0.03 percent.
Vaccination coverage in the Lapland Hospital District on 1 June 2021:
Lapland Hospital District population:
People who have received the first dose of the vaccine: 42.7 percent
People who have received the second dose of the vaccine: 12.1 percent
Entire population of Finland:
People who have received the first dose of the vaccine: 44.4 percent
People who have received the second dose of the vaccine: 9.0 percent
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 20 (17–23 May): Three (3) cases
Week no. 21 (24–30 May): One (1) case
Week no. 22 (current week): One (1) case (as of 3 May at 15:00)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 794. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.
Infection Control Unit
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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is now in the baseline phase of the epidemic.
Regional Pandemic Working Group: restrictions on public gatherings to be gradually lifted
During last week, eight (8) coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District. During the current week, the number of new cases confirmed to date is six. The coronavirus epidemic situation in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District area is at the baseline level.
The 10-person restriction imposed by the Regional State Administrative Agency on meetings in the Länsi-Pohja area will apply until the end of the current week, through to 6 June 2021. At the baseline level, the Regional State Administrative Office does not issue any further restrictions.
The Regional Pandemic Group strongly recommends that from 7 June 2021 onwards, a maximum of 20 people should be allowed to take part in indoor events and public meetings, with a maximum of 50 people allowed to attend outdoor events.
Larger outdoor events open to the public, such as sports events, can be organised in such a way that the audience is divided into sections of up to 50 people. These recommendations are in place for 7–13 June 2021.
Swimming pools are allowed to open their doors for people of all ages. The next review of the situation will take place and recommendations will be updated on 9 June 2021.
In order to maintain a good epidemic situation, we continue to urge everyone to take a coronavirus test even with the slightest of symptoms. In addition, the coronavirus safety rules (safe distancing, face masks, good hand hygiene) must still be strictly adhered to. 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 pandemic is not over – mass exposure in a Tornio day care centre
The hospital district has identified a case of the coronavirus related to the mass exposure from a kindergarten in Tornio.
This case shows that the pandemic is not over in the region. The coronavirus situation over the other side of the border is still difficult and cases are regularly brought into the area from Sweden. In border testing, only some of the cases are identified, which means that all coronavirus safety measures are still valid.
On arriving in the country, non-cooperation will lead to consequences with the authorities
This week, Finnish citizens from outside communities have had to have the police called on them at the border inspection posts at the border crossing points in the Länsi-Pohja area when arriving in the country. The reason for this was the refusal to cooperate with the communicable disease authorities and the on-duty infectious diseases doctor.
The people entering the country did not seem to be fully aware that a compulsory health check, including a coronavirus test, must be carried out on arrival. If you do not wish to take such an inspection and test, you should stay at home and avoid going to Sweden.
In the cases identified, people have refused all cooperation, resulting in significant delays in border crossing and entry, and in all cases a request for assistance from the police has had to be made.
These inconsiderate actions have really put a burden on a large number of infectious disease doctors, which means that the time spent sorting out these problems has been taken away from the time spent to tracing the sources of infections. No additional resources are available for such activities.
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
Week no. 20 (17–23 May): Four (4) cases
Week no. 21 (24–30 May): Eight (8) cases
Week no. 22 (current week): Six (6) cases (as of 3 May at 9:24)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 699.
Infection Control Unit