Wednesday 12 May 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

(current information at 12:00)

The Lapland Hospital District is in the baseline phase of the epidemic. Since mid-March, the number of new cases of Covid-19 has clearly started to decline, and the epidemic in Finland is calming down, at least for the time being. The recommendations and restrictions that have been issued and diligent adherence to these have reversed the direction in which the epidemic is developing. As we go through the spring, the progress of vaccinations and seasonal variation will also help to improve the epidemic situation. 

The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (26 April – 9 May) is 20.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (3–9 May) is 6.0 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. 

So far, no infections have been detected in the Lapland Hospital District this week

No coronavirus infections have been detected in the Lapland Hospital District this week.

Last week (week no. 18, 3–9 May), a total of seven (7) coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. A total of 3,432 coronavirus tests were taken, of which 3,306 were rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test results in relation to the total number of tests taken was 0.2 percent

Vaccination coverage as of 10 May 2021:
Of the population of the Lapland Hospital District, 33.4 percent of the population have received the first dose of the vaccine and 7.5 percent have received the second dose of the vaccine.

Of the total population of Finland, 34.9 percent have received the first dose of the vaccine and 3.8 percent have received the second dose of the vaccine.

The Lapland Hospital District has introduced an electronic data collection system at the border crossing stations – anyone entering Finland can now enter their details into the system before crossing the border using the laplandentry.fi website

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, information on people arriving in Finland has been gathered at the border crossing stations of the Lapland Medical District. Border crossing stations and municipal health care authorities will start using an electronic system designed to guide migrants in accordance with the coronavirus guidance and to ensure that people take a coronavirus test, if necessary.

Anyone planning to cross the border into Finland will be able to fill in the details even before arriving at the border on the www.laplandentry.fi website. In addition to the personal data and the place of residence, the person crossing the border may, if necessary, provide information related to the coronavirus, such as attaching a picture of a valid negative entry test. Guidance for the use of the system is also provided at border crossing stations and they will also help to ensure transmission of the data. Providing this information is voluntary.

The information system shall be used to transmit the information electronically to the authority of the territory of the municipality of residence or temporary accommodation of the person who is entering Finland, which may, if necessary, contact this person by telephone and provide testing and self-imposed quarantine information.

The data of the person entering the country are needed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and to implement the regulations currently in force in Finland concerning health checks of people crossing the border into Finland. The electronic collection of data facilitates both the work of the authorities and the people crossing the border into Finland.

Up until now, the data pertaining to people entering the country via Lapland’s border crossing stations has been collected on paper personal data forms. Using these personal data sheets, the municipal health care authorities have identified the need for testing and quarantine in accordance with the public guidelines, and in this way have directed people crossing the border to act in accordance with the coronavirus instructions.

The pre-information provided by people crossing the border into Finland is kept in the personal register of communicable diseases as intended by Communicable Diseases Act of Finland. The information is stored for a maximum of 14 days, after which the data is deleted from the system. The data are only used for the health checks related to entering Finland. The information in the form is used to carry out the measures provided for in the Communicable Diseases Act of Finland. For more information on the storing of your personal data, please contact the municipal health care authority.

Further information available from:
Laura Laine
Project Manager
Health Security for the Border Regions of the Lapland Hospital District 2020–2021 Project 
Lapland Hospital District joint municipal authority
laura.laine@lshp.fi
Tel. +358 40 665 7310 

Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week

Week no. 17 (26 April – 2 May): 17 cases

Week no. 18 (3–9 May): Seven (7) cases

Week no. 19 (current week): Zero (0) cases (as of 12 May at 12:00)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 785. This figure also includes persons living outside the area.

Infection Control Unit

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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District

(current information at 12:27)

The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is in the acceleration phase of the epidemic.

Not yet a return to the baseline phase – recommendations are being carefully lifted

During last week, 13 coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks is now approximately 45 per 100,000 inhabitants. Currently, there are no coronavirus in hospital care.

During the current week, the number of new cases confirmed to date is two (2). Both of these coronavirus infections have been confirmed at the Tornio national border testing point. Although the situation in the region has calmed down in recent weeks, there is still no return to the baseline phase. The criteria for the acceleration phase are still being met.

The recommendations and restrictions take into account the situation in Norrbotten

Due to the epidemic situation in Norrbotten still being difficult, the coronavirus recommendations and restrictions in the Länsi-Pohja are can be lifted very carefully. It is estimated that the situation will be easier once vaccination coverage on both sides of the border exceeds 50 percent So far, about one third of the population of Länsi-Pohja has been vaccinated.

The Regional Pandemic Working Group decided to relax its earlier recommendations slightly. Swimming pools will now be able to once again welcome people over 65 years of age in the future, because vaccinations have progressed well in this age group. In addition, the reading halls of libraries may be opened, if the safe distancing rules of the Regional State Administrative Agency are adhered to in the arrangements.

The maximum number of persons recommended for private events will rise to ten persons starting from 24 May. This recommendation is valid through to 6 June 2021. The Regional State Administrative Agency issues its own decisions regarding restrictions on public gatherings and safe distancing. All recommendations and restrictions currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed here and on the Hospital District website.

Compliance with coronavirus safety instructions (safe distancing, use of face masks, hand hygiene, and avoiding public gatherings) remains a high priority.

Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week

Week no. 17 (26 April – 2 May): 21 cases

Week no. 18 (3–9 May): 13 cases

Week no. 19 (current week): Two (2) cases (as of 12 May at 12:27)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 672.

Infection Control Unit