Thursday 8 April 2021
The translated version of the coronavirus review for Lapland is published once a week.
Anyone experiencing even the slightest of symptoms while in Lapland must take a coronavirus test.
Links about the current situation:
Here you will find coronavirus test contact information for all municipalities of Lapland
Official instructions from Lapland to travellers who suspect they may have caught the coronavirus
THL: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic
Find more instructions and current recommendations and restrictions for the hospital districts
THL: This site tells about the progress being made with COVID-19 vaccinations
Lapland Hospital District
(current information at 13:33)
The COVID-19 situation has worsened throughout the country. The majority of hospital districts have now entered the spreading or accelerating phases of the epidemic. The situation in the Lapland Hospital District has substantially calmed down in the last two weeks and the Coronavirus Coordination Group of the Lapland Hospital District has decided to declare the area has now returned to the baseline level starting from 6 April.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (week numbers 12 and 13, 22 March – 4 April) is 18.0 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (week no. 13, 29 March – 4 April) is 6.8 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 Lapland Hospital District shifted to the baseline phase of the epidemic on Tuesday 6 April
Two infections have been confirmed this week, but the people who are infected do not live in the Lapland Hospital District area, and there have been no exposures in the hospital district due to these cases. However, the cases are recorded as infections in the Lapland Hospital District based on the test site and the place of residence.
The Coronavirus Coordination Group of the Lapland Hospital District, in its meeting convened on Tuesday 6 April 2021, considered that the coronavirus situation in the area has calmed down and decided that the area will return to the baseline phase of the coronavirus epidemic:
Tuesday 6 April 2021: The Coronavirus Coordination Group of the Lapland Hospital District
In the last two weeks, around a dozen individual cases of coronavirus infections have been recorded per week, most of which have been confirmed with people who do not live in the region. No chains of infections have been created. The incidence rate of the virus is clearly falling. According to a report issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, for the last two weeks the incidence rate of the virus was 13.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is the second lowest on the national level.
There have still been many coronavirus tests taken in the hospital district. Last week, 3,839 coronavirus tests were carried out, with the proportion of positive tests representing 0.21%.
Responsible coronavirus safety measures have been adhered to in Lapland during the holiday season. In order to keep the situation good, the Coordination Group would like to remind everyone of the safety guidelines for preventing the spread of infections. It is still important to ensure good hand and coughing hygiene, to maintain a safe distance of at least two metres from others, to avoid crowds, to use a face mask, and to take a coronavirus test even if you experience the mildest of symptoms.
Changes to recommendations
The Coordination Group reviewed the guidelines it has issued and recommends that private events and gatherings of more than 20 people be avoided, remote working should be continued, and face masks should still be used in schools by staff and pupils in grades over 6. According to the Coordination Group, there is no longer any need for remote teaching in secondary and upper secondary schools, or for interruptions in group activities of people over 16 years of age.
However, it is still recommended that no sports and fitness events crossing the hospital district boundary be organised until 24 April. This recommendation applies to all individual and team sports and fitness events indoors and outdoors. However, this recommendation does not apply to national team events or competitions on the national championship or first division levels.
The meeting of the Corona Coordination Group also talked about the current coronavirus situation in Kittilä. During the last two weeks, two local inhabitants have been infected with the coronavirus, and the other cases have been found in people living outside of the region. Due to the small population of the municipality, the incidence rate is 31.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. The Coordination Group considers that the lockdown of catering establishments in the area is not necessary in terms of controlling the epidemic and is deemed as being unreasonable for the entrepreneurs in question. The Coordination Group proposes to the Government that the restaurant lockdown for Kittilä be lifted.
The Infection Control Unit is grateful for people taking responsible action and asks people to keep up the good work
Responsibility in Lapland is evident in the behaviour of tourists, businesses, communities, and educational establishments. The Infection Control Unit would like to thank everyone for their responsible behaviour and asks everyone to continue behaving in this responsible manner. Please continue to take care of safe distancing, use face masks, ensure good hand hygiene, and seek a coronavirus test even if you experience the mildest of symptoms.
We can safely say that rapid antigen testing in the area of the Lapland Hospital District has worked well. Test results are obtained quickly, which can also effectively limit the spread of infection. In the hospital district, tests are still carried out in a very comprehensive manner on the national level.
Vaccination coverage in the Lapland Hospital District
Wednesday 7 April In the Lapland Hospital District, 18.8 percent of the population of the region have received at least the first dose of the vaccine. The graph below shows the coverage of vaccination by age group in the hospital district.
84.2 percent of those aged 80 years or over have received the vaccine, 80.3 percent of people aged 75–79 years, and 43.0 percent of people aged 70–74 years.
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 12 (22–28 March): 13 cases
Week no. 13 (29 March – 4 April): Eight (8) cases
Week no. 14 (current week): Two (2) cases (as of 8 March at 13:33)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 749. This figure includes people who live outside the region.
Infection Control Unit
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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
(current information at 9:27)
The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is in the acceleration phase of the epidemic.
Last week, the situation was rather calm in the Länsi-Pohja area, with only two infections reported
Seven cases of coronavirus infections have been confirmed this week in total. Today, two cases were confirmed with people who were already in quarantine. At the moment, there are approximately 50 people currently in quarantine.
Only two coronavirus cases were detected in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District during week number 13 (29 March – 4 April). Last week, the incidence rate for a two-week period fell close to the baseline level and the incidence rate was 11.7 per 100,000 inhabitants.
However, the incidence started to rise again when five coronavirus infections were confirmed in Länsi-Pohja on Monday. Some of these cases are related to the Näätsaari School in Tornio, which has been quarantined until 15 April. The school now uses remote teaching until the end of quarantine period.
In Northern Sweden the coronavirus situation is still difficult, as is also evident in infections in the Länsi-Pohja region. Those returning to Finland from mines in Northern Sweden should take a coronavirus test at the border for every time they return to the country.
Some people only experience mild flu symptoms when they have contracted the coronavirus. Even if you experience the mildest of symptoms, you must take a coronavirus test to prevent the spread of the epidemic. This is especially important when you return from your Easter holiday. It is still very important to follow all restrictions and recommendations, as the coronavirus situation in the region can deteriorate rapidly.
Reminder: It can take up to two weeks from exposure to experiencing symptoms – take a coronavirus test even if you experience the mildest of symptoms
The average incubation period for the coronavirus disease is 5–6 days. In some cases, symptoms are experienced after 10–14 days following exposure. Therefore, it is particularly important that, when even the mildest of symptoms occur, you should take a coronavirus test, even if it has been quite a while since you returned from a trip to an area that is experiencing a worse coronavirus situation.
Please also remember that even if the coronavirus test result is negative, you should stay at home and avoid going to work for the duration of the illness.
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
Week no. 12 (22–28 March): Six (6) cases
Week no. 13 (29 March – 4 April): Two (2) cases
Week no. 14 (current week): Seven (7) cases (as of 8 March at 9:27)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 588.
Infection Control Unit