Two face masks crossed.
A mask recommendation is valid in South Karelia.

The mask recommendation and gathering restrictions will continue over Christmas

Release
18.12.2020 16:48
A decision on the continuation of second-level distance education will be made before the start of the spring semester.

South Karelia's regional COVID-19 situational group stated at the December 18.12.2020, XNUMX meeting: The coronavirus epidemic is still accelerating in the South Karelia region. The three phases of an epidemic are the base level, the acceleration phase and the spreading phase.

The 20-person gathering limit set by the Regional Administration Office is still in effect, which means all indoor and outdoor events, including recreational activities. The regional situational group has previously imposed a gathering limit of 10 individuals.

The situation picture group hopes that South Karelia will carefully follow the instructions, recommendations and restrictions on corona prevention.

- Serious consideration should now be used during Christmas and New Year celebrations, leisure time at, for example, skating rinks and Santa's home visits, advises the chairman of the regional situation group Tuula Karhula.

The situational image group advises to keep a fair distance at, for example, skating rinks, and gives instructions not to set off fireworks. Regarding the risk of accidents related to the use of fireworks, it is hoped that private individuals will also skip shooting fireworks this year.

Preparation for the beginning of the year

The mask recommendation continues over the Christmas holidays and for the beginning of the year unchanged. 

In school transports, masks will also be used at the beginning of the year. The gathering restrictions will probably continue as before at least for the first three weeks of January. AVI makes new decisions even before the turn of the year.

Regarding the continuation of the second degree distance education recommendation, the situation will be monitored and a decision on the recommendations will be made at the next meetings on December 29.12.2020, 4.1.2021 and January XNUMX, XNUMX.

- Making predictions is difficult in this situation. The situation at the beginning of January is strongly influenced by how people celebrate Christmas, how valid recommendations are followed and how much people move around at Christmas time, explains Karhula.

When planning a Christmas party, it is good to ask the opinion of all participants, especially elderly relatives or loved ones, and to respect different wishes.

The snapshot group sends greetings to young people

The snapshot group wants to send special greetings to the youth of South Karelia. The use of masks by young people has increased in recent weeks, and the snapshot group wants to convey its thanks to every young person who uses a mask or otherwise follows the recommendations. The aim of the recommendations is to reduce coronavirus infections.

At the same time, the snapshot group hopes that the young people themselves would remember and discuss with them that the valid gathering restrictions also apply to shopping centers and other gathering spaces. During the holidays, young people are expected to meet each other only in small groups and responsibly following the recommendations.
- By following these current recommendations, we will be able to return to a more normal situation more quickly, and therefore responsible behavior is now expected from all residents of the area, encourages Eksoten's safety and preparedness manager Kristiina Kapulainen.

 

The situation picture group has decided on 1.12. puts the following recommendations into effect from 3.12 December to 31.12.2020 December 3.12.2020. The recommendations have been supplemented on XNUMX December XNUMX. The recommendations are valid for the authorities, the population, operators and education organizers:

Private events:

  • A gathering limit of 10 people is valid for private events.

Organization of teaching:

  • Second-level education is recommended to be moved to distance education from December 7.12.2020, XNUMX, with the exception of face-to-face education deemed necessary by the organizer of the education.
  • Early childhood education and basic education will continue as before.
  • Teaching organizers are also given a mask recommendation on school transport. The organizer of the lesson will provide masks for the children and young people who are being transported to school. Other children and young people using public transport get the masks themselves.

Public spaces:

  • Library events are canceled and lounges, such as newsrooms, are recommended to be closed. Borrowing and returning books continues. You are only allowed to do business in the library for the time necessary for taking care of things, and we ask that you prefer advance reservations. Library customers are strongly advised to wear a mask.
  • The number of customers in museums and youth facilities is limited to 20 people. Youth activities are recommended to be partially moved online, but youth facilities can be open at the discretion of the municipalities, taking into account the 20-person limit.

Group hobby activities:

  • Indoor and outdoor group hobby activities for over 20-year-olds are recommended to be suspended in team and contact sports.
  • Group hobby activities for children and young people can be continued using special consideration, taking into account the limit of 20 people for both indoor and outdoor hobby activities. In group hobby activities, the risks related to the nature of the sport must be taken into account. If the hobby activity is not interrupted, the instructions of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health must be taken into account that participants and accompanying children must be able to avoid close contact with each other.
  • The aim is to secure the training of professional and competitive athletes in such a way that training can be continued if it is safe and the guidelines regarding gathering restrictions and gatherings can be followed. The audience may be 20 people in a separate stand, but care must be taken to ensure that the audience and the athletes do not meet. Athletes may gather 20 people at a time.

Travel:

  • Travel between Finland and Russia should be avoided.
  • It is recommended to avoid all movement to areas in the spreading phase. Movement should be avoided, especially in areas where the coronavirus situation is more difficult than in South Karelia. Travel to northern ski resorts and abroad should be avoided.

Telecommuting:

  • All employers in South Karelia are recommended to organize remote work in all tasks where it is even temporarily possible. If remote work is not possible, it is recommended that the employer instructs the use of a face mask in all workplaces, even if keeping safety distances is possible. Meals and coffee breaks should be staggered. Business and official trips and local training events are not recommended.

Mask recommendation:

  • The mask recommendation is valid in public transport, including school rides and taxi drivers and passengers.
  • Otherwise, the mask recommendation for the acceleration phase is valid in accordance with THL's instructions in the following situations and for the following persons:
    •  Persons applying for a coronavirus test on the way to sample collection and before the test result is ready, if there is a necessary reason to move outside the home
    • Travelers arriving in Finland from the risk area when they move from the point of entry to quarantine or if they have a necessary reason to move outside their home during quarantine.
    • In secondary educational institutions (including upper secondary schools) and universities.
    • In public interiors and public events
      • Shops and shopping centers, post offices, banks, libraries and other similar indoor spaces
      • Spaces used for exercise or sports and following them (at least common spaces and dressing rooms)
      • Swimming pools, spas and saunas (public areas and changing rooms)
      • Churches and other facilities of religious communities
      • Concert halls and other spaces used for performing live music
      • Cinemas and other facilities used for showing films and other similar audiovisual works
      • Museums and galleries
      • Amusement and theme parks and attractions if indoor
      • Premises used for gambling and betting services.
  • Customer service points must be equipped with protective plexes. For those working in customer service, the employer must distribute masks or protective visors to employees who have to work less than 1,5 meters away from other people.

Proceedings:

The situation in the rest of Finland and the restrictions and recommendations valid in the regions of other hospital districts can be seen on the website of the Institute of Health and Welfare under the section Situation of regions. The link to the page can also be found on Eksoten's page www.eksote.fi/koronavirus