Thursday 9 December 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 about the current situation:
- List of exposure sites for the last two weeks in the Lapland Hospital District
- 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
- THL: Progress with COVID-19 vaccinations
Lapland Hospital District
(information as of 9 December at 14:58)
Lapland Hospital District is at the baseline phase of the epidemic, with the exception of the city of Rovaniemi, which has entered the community transmission phase on 30 November 2021.
Restrictions and recommendations set by the Emergency Management Team of the City of Rovaniemi valid through to 31 December 2021.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (22 November – 5 December) is 249.0 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (29 November – 5 December) is 144.6 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.
Several new infections have now been detected not only in Rovaniemi but also in Inari and Kittilä
Last week (week no. 48, 29 November – 5 December), a total of 169 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. Altogether 5,557 coronavirus tests were taken in the area. The proportion of positive test cases in relation to the total number of tests taken was 3.04 percent.
136 cases of coronavirus infections have been confirmed this week in total. Most of the infections have been confirmed in Rovaniemi. Several new infections have also been detected in Inari and Kittilä.
At present, there is are large numbers of people infected with the coronavirus in Rovaniemi and there are a number of potential exposure sites. It is still not late to get your first COVID-19 vaccine.
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 47 (22–28 November): 122 cases
Week no. 48 (29 November – 5 December): 169 cases
Week no. 49 (current week): 136 cases (as of 9 December at 14:58)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 2,186. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.
Infection Control Unit
***
Current vaccination coverage (updated on 9 December)
| For those aged 12 years or older | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 87.1% | 86.2% | 87.1% |
| 2nd dose | 82.5% | 81.1% | 82.4% |
| Whole population | Lapland Hospital District | Länsi-Pohja Hospital District | Whole of Finland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 77.3% | 76.3% | 76.7% |
| 2nd dose | 73.3% | 71.8% | 72.6% |
***
Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
(information as of 8 December at 13:27)
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.
Regional Pandemic Working Group: Further restrictions on gatherings are necessary
This week, 12 new cases of the coronavirus have been reported in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by Wednesday morning. Following an inspection audit, the number of new cases for last week totalled 61. Ten of these were found to be residents of Sweden who took a COVID-19 test at the testing point on the border.
Only 60% of the local infections reported last week were traceable. This indicates that disease is freely transmitting throughout the population. Meri-Lappi (Sea Lapland) is still in the community transmission phase of the epidemic.
There are currently seven patients in the Länsi-Pohja Central Hospital being treated for the coronavirus. Over the last week, there has been a slight decrease in the need for hospital care and the separate, temporary COVID-19 intensive care unit has been dismantled.
So far, no infection caused by the Omicron variant has been detected in the Länsi-Pohja area.
Restrictions remain necessary
In the Länsi-Pohja municipalities in the region, restrictions have been introduced concerning public gatherings in recent weeks and, in addition, there are also restrictions on restaurants and bars imposed by the Government, which will apply until the end of the year. The alternative to these restrictions is to start using the COVID-19 Passport.
The epidemic situation in the region is still difficult. The Regional Pandemic Working Group recommends that restrictions be extended in the municipalities until 16 January 2022, with a tightening of the gathering restriction to a maximum of 20 people. The restriction on gatherings would apply to indoor high and moderate risk events, public meetings and public events that involve people aged of 16 years or over. The restriction could be avoided by using the COVID-19 Passport. Furthermore, the Regional Pandemic Working Group recommends that the restriction on the number of persons is also respected at private events.
All familiar COVID-19 safety measures – good hand hygiene, safe distancing, and face mask use – are still relevant. The coronavirus recommendations currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed on the Hospital District website.
Vaccination of children in risk groups is beginning
In the Länsi-Pohja area, vaccination of risk-group children aged 5–11 years is under way. The municipalities will provide information on their own websites about the vaccination timetables schedule and making appointments.
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. 47 (22–28 November): 53 cases
Week no. 48 (29 November – 5 December): 61 cases (as of 8 December at 13:27)
Week no. 49 (current week): 12 cases (as of 8 December at 13:27)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 1,523.
Infection Control Unit
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