Wednesday 9 December 2020
The translated version of the coronavirus review for Lapland is published once a week.
Lapland Hospital District’s coronavirus review
(current information as of 9 November at 12:03)
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.
Current recommendations and restrictions in place for the Lapland Hospital District
Let’s work together to keep the Lapland Hospital District at the baseline level: Please make sure you follow safety instructions
The origins of almost every case of coronavirus infection in the Lapland Hospital District are known. By far, the majority of infections come from abroad, people living outside the district, and the chain of infection originating from the Ihku Bar case in Levi. The chain of infection that started from nightlife during the World Cup Levi has led to 23 cases that we are aware of, 13 of which are with people living within the Lapland Hospital District area.
During week no. 49 (30 November – 6 December), a total of 3,200 coronavirus tests were taken in the Lapland Hospital District, with 1,184 of these being rapid antigen tests. The number of positive results accounted for 0.69%. The number of infections confirmed for this week totals 22.
Testing for the coronavirus in the Lapland Hospital District is very active compared to the rest of Finland; during week no. 48 (23–29 November), more tests were done in relation to the size of the population the Lapland Hospital District than anywhere else in Finland.
The Infection Control Unit of the Lapland Hospital District would like to emphasise for everyone how important it is to follow all safety rules. It is important to ensure good hand hygiene and safe distancing, and use a face mask in all indoor public spaces and on public transport, if sufficient social distancing cannot be guaranteed. You must take a coronavirus test, even if you have the slightest of symptoms, and stay at home until you have received a negative test result for the coronavirus.
By each one of us behaving correctly and following the rules, we can prevent the coronavirus epidemic from worsening in the Lapland Hospital District.
Possible exposures at the Shell service station by the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi on 2 December.
If you have been to the Shell service station by the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi on 2 December between 1–3 p.m., you may have been exposed to the coronavirus. If you think you may have been exposed, monitor your health, and go for a coronavirus test, even if the mildest of symptoms occur.
The incidence rate based on weeks 48 and 49 (23 November – 6 December) is 41.1 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (week no. 49, 30 November – 6 December) is 18.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Number of positive coronavirus tests in the Lapland Hospital District by week
23–29 November (week no. 48): total of 26 cases
30 November – 6 December (week no. 49): 22 cases
Week 50 (current week): 3 cases (as of 9 December at 12:03)
The total number of coronavirus cases verified by the Lapland Hospital District is 355, with 34 of these cases being with patients who were not local residents.
Infection Control Unit
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Länsi-Pohja Hospital District’s coronavirus review
(current information as of 9 November at 12:37)
The Länsi-Pohja Hospital District is still in the acceleration phase.
The majority of infections confirmed last week were from people who were not in quarantine – safety instructions must still be strictly followed
Last week (week no. 49, 30 November – 6 December) saw 10 coronavirus cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District. During last week, a total of 773 coronavirus tests were conducted. One new case of the coronavirus has been reported this week. In respect to hospital care, the situation has remained calm and there are currently no Covid-19 patients in intensive care.
Five new cases related to the Levi nightlife chain of infections have been confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District.
The incidence rate based on the last two weeks is now 33.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. At its lowest point, the incidence rate during a week has been 28.4 per 100,000 inhabitants, so the figure has risen slightly.
The biggest concern is that the majority of infections confirmed last week came from people who were not in quarantine. Therefore, it is extremely important that all coronavirus recommendations and restrictions are strictly followed. The Pandemic Working Group would like to remind everyone to stay quarantined at home while waiting to receive results from a coronavirus test. In addition, all visits to anyone in quarantine are strictly forbidden.
Recommendations remain the same – but do not apply to Finnish championship team sports
The regional Pandemic Working Group decided to keep the coronavirus recommendations as they are. These recommendations are valid through to the end of the year.
In some municipalities in the region, libraries and museums have kept their doors shut over the past few weeks. The regional Pandemic Working Group decided that libraries and museums can open their doors once again on 14 December 2020 throughout the Länsi-Pohja district. However, all reading rooms must still be kept shut and care must be taken to strictly follow all safety rules concerning the coronavirus.
The regional Pandemic Working Group also decided that the rules it has issued shall not apply to Finnish championship-level team sports. Nevertheless, all practice sessions shall not involve more than ten people in a group and the composition of the team must remain the same. These sportspeople must also avoid all contact with persons who do not belong to the team.
This policy adopted by the regional Pandemic Working Group is in line with the national policy which states that the restrictions do not apply to team sports at the Finnish championship level. Ultimately, it is the municipal council who decides on the use of sports premises and the opening times for libraries and museums.
All recommendations and restrictions currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed on the Hospital District website and you can find them from here in English.
– Länsi-Pohja Regional Pandemic Working Group
Number of positive coronavirus tests in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District by week
23–29 November (week no. 48): 11 cases
30 November – 6 December (week no. 49): 10 cases
Week 50 (current week): 1 case (as of 9 December at 12:37)
The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 317.
Infection Control Unit