Wednesday 23 June 2021
The Lapland coronavirus review will be published on weekdays.
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 Lapland Hospital District is in the baseline phase of the epidemic. The COVID-19 situation in the Lapland Hospital District has remained calm for the last two months. Individual infections have all come from outside the hospital district. The national situation has also developed in a more peaceful direction, with only six hospital districts currently experiencing the acceleration or community transmission phases.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (7–20 June) is 10.3 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (14–20 June) 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.
A new information package has been published to help sports and fitness sector operators to facilitate their activities during the coronavirus epidemic
So far, no infections have been detected in the Lapland Hospital District this week. Last week (week no. 23, 7–13 June 2021), a total of eight coronavirus infections were confirmed. Last week a total of 4,600 coronavirus tests were taken, of which 4,478 were rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test results in relation to the total number of tests taken was 0.17 percent.
Vaccination coverage by 22 June
Of the population of the Lapland Hospital District, 53.7 percent of the population have received the first dose of the vaccine and 16.7 percent have received the second dose of the vaccine.
Of the total population of Finland, 55.4 percent have received the first dose of the vaccine and 15.4 percent have received the second dose of the vaccine.
New Normal standard operating procedures for sports and fitness sector operators
The New Normal standard operating procedures is an information package for sports and fitness sector operators to be able to organise activities in exceptional circumstances. The purpose of the standard operating procedures is to act as a tool that is as practical as possible to facilitate and organise health safety operations smoothly, especially during the epidemic/pandemic period. The standard operating procedures can also be used as a foundation for other exceptional circumstances. The standard operating procedures contain a set of general guidelines, good practices, links to key updated information sources, and practical tools for organising safe sport and physical activity.
The standard operating procedures have been produced as part of the Safe Sport & Fitness project funded by the Regional Council of Lapland. The contents of the standard operating procedures are a versatile set of information gathered from different sources, but it is particularly targeted at the regional perspective of Lapland. The standard operating procedures should not be read as such but always be interpreted and applied on a case-by-case basis in relation to organisation-specific special characteristics and national and regional government guidelines.
The information contained in the standard operating procedures was compiled during the spring of 2021, using sector-related surveys, good practices, independent expert interviews, operator questionnaires, a joint development workshop, including a field study and standard operating procedure piloting. The Working Group would like to take this opportunity to thank those involved in the development work.
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 23 (7–13 June): Four (4) cases
Week no. 24 (14–20 June): Eight (8) cases
Week no. 25 (current week): Zero (0) cases (as of 23 June 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 806. 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: Coronavirus safety measures will continue throughout the summer
During last week, seven coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District, four of which were infections reported with people already in quarantine, and the remaining three were people who are not local residents and were passing through the district. So far, no new infections have been reported this week.
The coronavirus epidemic situation in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District area is at the baseline level. Even beyond the western border, the epidemic situation has improved in recent weeks and the situation in border municipalities is currently relatively calm.
Face mask recommendation, good hand hygiene, and safe distancing are still valid
In the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District area, coronavirus recommendations and restrictions have been phased out in recent weeks. However, coronavirus safety measures, i.e. good hand hygiene and safe distancing, must continue to be observed. The Regional Pandemic Working Group also continues to recommend the use of face masks for all social contacts where safe distancing cannot be guaranteed.
It is also recommended to continue coronavirus safety practices in the workplace.
All coronavirus recommendations currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed on the Hospital District website.
Vaccinations have progressed well
Vaccination has progressed well in the municipalities in the region. To date, 52.1 percent of all people to receive the vaccine in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District have received at least one dose. Approximately 17.1 percent of the people to receive the vaccine have received both doses. In some municipalities in the region, vaccinations have already been started for high-risk groups aged between 12 and 15 years.
People who have received both doses of the vaccine no longer need to take a coronavirus test when crossing the national border. A certificate verifying that you have received the coronavirus vaccine is available from the Omakanta service. For more information about the vaccination certificate, see https://www.kanta.fi/koronatodistus.
The Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group
For more information, please contact: Interim Medical Director Petra Portakorva, tel. 040 168 5211
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
Week no. 23 (7–13 June): 15 cases
Week no. 24 (14–20 June): Seven (7) cases
Week no. 25 (current week): Zero (0) cases (as of 23 June at 13:57)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 726.
Infection Control Unit