Wednesday 10 February 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 12:20)
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 Lapland Hospital District is still in the baseline phase of the coronavirus.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (week numbers 4 and 5, 11–24 January 2021) is 30.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week, i.e. week no. 5 (1–7 February) is 12.0 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.
Last week a total of 14 new cases were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District area
A total of nine new coronavirus cases have been confirmed so far this week.
During week no. 5 (1–7 February 2021), a total of 14 coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. A total of 3,311 coronavirus tests were taken, of which 2,897 were rapid antigen tests. The number of positive results accounted for 0.69%.
The number of cases of the new virus variants has increased in Finland, and because of this, it is very important that people crossing the border into Finland are tested. This will allow us to prevent the epidemic from worsening. For people living in the border communities, a negative coronavirus test result is valid for one week at a time. At the border crossing points with Sweden that are located in the Lapland Hospital District area, there is an average of 50–100 people entering the country every day. At the border crossing points with Norway, the corresponding figure is approximately 50 persons per day.
Sweden is also tightening border crossing regulations
In the future, Sweden is demanding that any foreigners crossing the border must have a negative coronavirus test result that is no older than 48 hours. These new rules will be put into force on the night between Friday and Saturday, and this practice will last through to the end of March.
In Sweden, a large number of infections have been confirmed in the Northvolt battery factory located in Skellefteå – the factory employs approximately 200 Finns
A large number of coronavirus infections have been confirmed at the Northvolt battery factory located in Skellefteå, Sweden. Some of these infections have been confirmed as being caused by the British coronavirus variant. The factory employs around 200 Finns.
This mass infection occurring at the Swedish Northvolt battery factory in Skellefteå has caused a total of 29 infections throughout Finland, five of which are secondary infections. There is a total of five infections associated with the Northvolt factory in the Lapland Hospital District area, three of which are secondary infections. The Finns working at the Northvolt factory have mostly been contacted and instructed to take a coronavirus test. The communicable diseases authority has made a quarantine assessment for these people. (information as of 9 February at 13:27)
The Northvolt factory situation is a good example as to how important it is for all people crossing the border to take a coronavirus test when entering Finland. Behaving in this manner will help prevent the new and quickly spreading virus variants from being confirmed in Finland.
In Sweden’s Norrbotten County, the number of new cases has remained the same, but in Västerbotten, the number of cases has increased
In Sweden’s Norrbotten County, the number of new cases has remained the same. Last week (week no. 5, 1–7 February), a total of 462 new cases were confirmed and the week before (week no. 4, 25–31 January), a total of 463 new cases were confirmed. The number of new cases in Haparanda has dropped slightly, with last week having a total of 34 new cases confirmed. In the Kiruna Municipality there were 44 new cases, 10 in the Övertorneå Municipality and one in the Pajala Municipality. However, in the Västerbotten Province, where the Northvolt battery factory is located, the number of coronavirus cases has increased. During the week before last (week no. 4, 25–31 January), approximately 450 new cases were confirmed in Västerbotten, and last week (week no. 5, 1–7 February) a total of approximately 750–800 new cases were confirmed.
Number of positive coronavirus tests in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 4 (25–31 January): 22 cases
Week no. 5 (1–7 February): 14 cases
Week no. 6 (current week): 9 cases (as of 10 February at 12:20)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 516. This figure includes people who live outside the region.
Infection Control Unit
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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
(current information at 14:02)
The coronavirus situation in the Länsi-Pohja area is still in the acceleration phase.
Regional Pandemic Working Group: restrictions to continue in March
During week no. 5 (1–7 February), 29 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District (before verified counting the figure was 31). Of these, 19 were direct infections from Sweden and seven cases were related to the mass infection occurring at the Northvolt battery factory.
All employees returning from the Northvolt battery factory in Skellefteå last week have been put into quarantine, regardless of the result of their coronavirus test. The employees retuning from the factory this week have provided a negative test result and these people have been instructed to take another coronavirus test within 72 hours in their own home district.
The tracing of infections has worked effectively and all the cases confirmed last week have been successfully traced. The situation has also remained calm in respect to hospital care. Therefore, the epidemic in Länsi-Pohja is still in the acceleration phase. During the current week, the number of new cases to date is five.
Recommendations and restrictions are in place through to 18 March 2021
The Regional Pandemic Working Group decided to extend all existing recommendations through to 18 March 2021. Later this week, the Regional State Administrative Agency of Lapland will make a decision regarding restrictions for gatherings.
The Regional Pandemic Working Group would like to remind people that these recommendations and restrictions also apply to Finnish Championship team sports. However, the novice team sports activities for the under 18s have not been restricted. Nevertheless, these activities must also strictly adhere to coronavirus safety instructions.
The Regional Pandemic Working Group continues to recommend that all secondary schools use remote learning in accordance with the prevailing epidemic situation in the municipality. It is recommended that no more than ten (10) persons at any one time participate in face-to-face learning sessions. Face masks must be used and safe distancing rules adhered to.
All recommendations and restrictions currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed here and on the Hospital District website.
Vaccinations are making progress
Vaccinations are currently being provided for all senior citizens over the age of 80 living at home in the municipalities of Länsi-Pohja. Vaccinations are progressing depending on how the vaccinations are available in the municipalities of the area.
The municipalities will provide information on their own websites about the vaccination timetables and making appointments.
On the basis of infection tracing work, there is reason to increase the use of the Koronavilkku tracing app and downloading the app is still recommended.
Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group
Number of positive coronavirus tests in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
Week no. 4 (25–31 January): 29 cases
Week no. 5 (1–7 February): 29 cases
Week no. 6 (current week): 5 cases (as of 10 February at 14:02)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 493.
Infection Control Unit