Wednesday 31 March 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 as of 31 March at 12:43)
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 now in the acceleration phase of the epidemic.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (week numbers 11 and 12, 15–28 March) is 35.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week, i.e. week no. 12 (22–28 March) is 11.1 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.
Four new coronavirus cases reported this week in the Lapland Hospital District
During the current week, four new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District area. Two of these cases were confirmed in Kittilä, one in Salla, and one in Sodankylä. In all of these cases, the infection was contracted from outside Lapland.
Last week (week no. 12, 22–28 March 2021), a total of 13 coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. During last week, a total of 4,163 coronavirus tests were conducted, of which 3,950 were rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test results was 0.31 percent.
Restaurants in Lapland can re-open starting on 29 March, with the exception of Kittilä
The government ruled on 28 March that diverging from the earlier lockdown, restaurants can open their doors once again starting on 29 March in Åland, Southern Ostrobothnia, and Lapland, with the exception of the Municipality of Kittilä.
Press Release by the Finnish Government issued on 28 March 2021
“With the exception of Lapland, restaurant closures are imposed on a region-wide basis. In its reply to the Government, Parliament concluded that a sparsely populated region with long distances requires a more thorough consideration. Based on the opinion of Parliament and health authorities’ statement, restaurants must be closed in Kittilä. In all other municipalities in Lapland, restaurants may open for business beginning on 29 March.”
Convening for their meeting scheduled for Friday 26 March, the Coronavirus Coordination Group for the Lapland Hospital District did not make any revisions to the currently valid recommendations and instructions: the earlier recommendations and instructions shall remain in force through to 11 April.
Review of the situation issued by the Coronavirus Coordination Group for the Lapland Hospital District on 26 March:
According to the Coronavirus Coordination Group, the infection situation in the Lapland Hospital District area has calmed down compared to previous weeks. This week, by Friday morning, there were only seven (7) new cases of the coronavirus reported, while the same figure for last week was a total of 29 new cases of infection.
In the report published by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the infection incidence rate within the hospital district area for the last two weeks was 33.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Testing activity in the area remains high and of all the tests taken, the share of positive test results, i.e. those who have contracted the coronavirus infection, is less than one percent.
The Lapland Hospital District area is still experiencing the acceleration phase of the coronavirus. The reduction in the numbers of new cases of infection suggests that the baseline level could be achievable in the near future, if the trend continues to follow the same course.
Busy holiday travel at Easter by people visiting Lapland from places with higher incidence rates for the coronavirus can increase pressure with a rise in the number of infections. Thanks to responsible behaviour by people travelling during the spring break (skiing holiday), no significant increase in case numbers was experienced. We hope that this responsible behaviour continues by visitors and residents alike, making sure that all coronavirus rules and recommendations are followed, which will allow us to keep the epidemic under control.
The Coronavirus Coordination Group did not make any changes to the recommendations and instructions that it issued earlier. The instructions it has issued are to be kept in force through to 11 April.
As usual, all the current recommendations and restrictions valid for Lapland can be found on the www.koronaturvallinenlappi.fi website.
The Coronavirus Coordination Group of the Lapland Hospital District would like to wish everyone a very happy Easter embracing safe outdoor pursuits.
Further information available from
Jukka Mattila
Medical Director
Tel. 050 572 6277
Markku Broas
Infectious Disease Specialist
Tel. 050 347 2387
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District by week
Week no. 11 (15–21 March): 29 cases
Week no. 12 (22–28 March): 13 cases
Week no. 13 (current week): Four (4) cases (as of 31 March at 12:43)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 743. This figure includes people who live outside the region.
Infection Control Unit
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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District
(current information as of 31 March at 12:21)
The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is in the acceleration phase of the epidemic.
Regional Pandemic Working Group: too early to lift restrictions
During week no. 12 (8–14 February), six (6) coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District. During the current week to date, only one new infection has been confirmed with someone already in quarantine.
Although the situation has calmed down in Länsi-Pohja recently, the epidemic in the area is still in the acceleration phase. According to instructions issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the stricter restrictions issued for localities in the community transmission phase of the epidemic will remain in force.
These restrictions are necessary, in order to be able to control the spreading of the coronavirus variants that are more easily transmitted. During the past year, we have noticed how the situation can quickly take a turn for the worse. This would also be a risk today, if restrictions were to be lifted prematurely. The situation in the neighbouring areas also has an impact on these restrictions.
The Pandemic Working Group decided to keep all the current recommendations and restrictions in place through to 25 April 2021, in accordance with policies made over the past few weeks. The Pandemic Working Group strongly recommends for all actors, municipalities of the region, organisations, and communities to adhere to these policies. All recommendations and restrictions currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed on the Hospital District website.
Evening out of vaccine quantities
Efforts have been conducted to even out the number of vaccines between municipalities in such a way that all persons over the age of 70 years who want to take the vaccine will receive it as soon as possible.
Vaccinations have continued starting on 29 March 2021, including the AstraZeneca vaccine for people over the age of 65 years, as stated in the instructions issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). People receiving the vaccine do not have the opportunity to choose which of the vaccine manufacturers they prefer.
The Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group
For further information please contact: Medical Director Jyri J. Taskila, tel. 040 352 1097
Number of positive coronavirus tests confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
Week no. 11 (15–21 March): 27 cases
Week no. 12 (22–28 March): Six (6) cases
Week no. 13 (current week): One (1) case (as of 31 March at 12:21)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 577.
Infection Control Unit