Wednesday 9 June 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

The incidence rate based on the last two weeks (24 May – 6 June) is 1.7 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rate based on one week (31 May – 6 June) is 0.9 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.

Second infection in the Rovaniemi chain of transmission

Last week (week no. 22, 31 May – 6 June), one (1) coronavirus infection was confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District. A total of total 3,212 coronavirus tests were taken in the Lapland Hospital District, with 3,128 of these being rapid antigen tests. The proportion of positive test results in relation to the total number of tests taken was 0.03 percent

Two coronavirus infections have been detected in the Lapland Hospital District this week. The first of these infections was confirmed on Monday in Rovaniemi. The infection in question was contracted outside the Lapland Hospital District and by Tuesday a total of 33 people had been quarantined due to the incident. The other of the infections this week was reported today in Rovaniemi, and it relates to the case that was recorded on Monday. It is an infection of a quarantined person and the person’s residence is located outside the Lapland Hospital District.

In relation to the chain of transmission, exposures may have occurred in Rovaniemi in the following locations:

On Saturday 5 June, between 22:30 and 01:00, in the Kansan Pubi bar

On Sunday 6 June, between 13:50 and 14:40, in the Kauppayhtiö restaurant

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

Week no. 21 (24–30 May): One (1) case

Week no. 22 (31 May – 6 June): One (1) case

Week no. 23 (current week): Two (2) cases (as of 9 June at 15:19)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Lapland Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 796. This figure includes people who live outside the region.

Infection Control Unit

***

Länsi-Pohja Hospital District

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

Regional Pandemic Working Group: Changes to restrictions

During last week, 12 coronavirus infections were confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District. During the current week, the number of cases confirmed to date is four (4).

The number of infections has increased slightly in recent weeks, but infection tracing continues to work well. The number of infections in the area has been increased by the fact that a large number of people are being tested at the border crossing stations who do not live in the area.

The incidence rate for the Länsi-Pohja area is currently approximately 30 per 100,000 inhabitants. The epidemic situation in the region is currently at the baseline level.

The recommendations will be alleviated – the future will be reviewed next week

The Regional Pandemic Working Group strongly recommends that from 14 June 2021 onwards, a maximum of 50 people should be allowed to take part in indoor events and public meetings, with a maximum of 100 people allowed to attend outdoor events. Larger outdoor events open to the public, such as sports events, can be organised in such a way that the audience is divided into sections of up to a maximum of one hundred people. The recommendation is valid for next week (14–20 June 2021).

The next review of the recommendations will take place on 16 June 2021. If the epidemic continues to be at a baseline level, it is possible that the recommendations for meetings and public events can be completely lifted starting 21 June 2021. All coronavirus recommendations and restrictions currently applied in the Länsi-Pohja area are listed here and on the Hospital District website.

Vaccination is the way out of the pandemic

Vaccination has progressed well in the municipalities of the region, although the progress of vaccinations has been slower than was hoped for in the region. Around 45 percent of all those to be vaccinated in the region have received at least the first dose of the vaccine. Both doses of the vaccine have been received by about 15 percent of the people to receive the vaccine in the region.

In some municipalities in the area, vaccination appointments are very well available, as the appointments are being booked at a rather slow pace. In order to achieve an adequate level of vaccination coverage, a vaccine is recommended for all people over the age of 16 year, reminds the Regional Pandemic Working Group. It is worth taking the vaccine, as it will make it easier for you to travel in the future.

Municipalities inform about vaccination matters on their websites.

Participation in the compulsory health check and the coronavirus test also applies to all visitors travelling to Haparanda

The two-week incidence rate for the coronavirus in Norrbotten is still very high and travel to the area is not recommended. The hospital district points out that when returning to Finland, a compulsory health check is required by the Regional State Administration Agency. Taking the coronavirus test is an integral part of this procedure.

People living outside the area do not appear to be aware of this, especially as this order also applies to shopping trips to Haparanda and when returning to Finland. Everyone shall be required to provide a coronavirus sample upon returning to Finland, unless the persons crossing the border can produce a negative result of a coronavirus test taken in advance or a verifiable certificate of having recovered from the coronavirus.

It is hoped that the media will broadly inform people about the mandatory health checks at the border and the related coronavirus test for people living outside the area of the Länsi-Pohja district, so that people are more aware of the issue and avoid confrontation in the area of testing when they return to Finland.

A positive test result for the coronavirus has been reported in the Nestori senior citizen home in the town of Kemi – staff and residents have been exposed

A positive coronavirus infection has been confirmed in department 1 of the Nestori old people’s home in Kemi. Some staff and residents have been exposed to the coronavirus. The relatives of the exposed persons are being contacted. In order to implement quarantine, a visitation ban is in place in department 1 of the old people’s home Nestori through to 19 June 2021.

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

Week no. 21 (24–30 May): Eight (8) cases

Week no. 22 (31 May – 6 June): 12 cases

Week no. 23 (current week): Four (4) cases (as of 9 June at 12:08)

The total number of cases confirmed in the Länsi-Pohja Hospital District on the basis of coronavirus tests conducted at testing stations is 708.