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The situation picture group warns: the number of corona infections obtained from holiday places is increasing
The South Karelia regional COVID-19 situational group reminds that voima has a gathering limit of six (4.3.2021) people set by the Regional Administration Office (AVI) on March 6, 25.2, which means all indoor and outdoor events. The regional situation group has set XNUMX. from the beginning of the six-person gathering limit for private individuals and stated that the institutions must now also switch to remote meetings only. All gatherings and close contacts outside the home should be avoided whenever possible.
The situation picture group recommends that the municipalities in South Karelia immediately implement all the restrictions and recommendations concerning the spreading phase and level 2, which the municipality can independently decide on.
The corona situation in South Karelia is very alarming
The conditions of Sections 58 f and 58 g of the Infectious Diseases Act and their fulfillment were seriously discussed. However, the sections have not yet been put into use, because all the conditions set by the law for the introduction of the sections are not met in the region, although the situation is already very alarming in terms of other conditions. The situation at the South Karelia Central Hospital is under constant evaluation, and if the hospital's capacity to treat all patients in the area is threatened, the sections will be put into use in the area very quickly.
- The mask requirement is already in force, for example, on VR trains and, for example, on Imatra public transport. These are measures to combat the epidemic before Traficom starts to limit the number of people traveling in means of transport, according to the snapshot group.
- Examining the operational capacity of the hospital is important in the overall review. If significantly more coronavirus patients come to the hospital, we will have to reduce non-urgent activities. We have already had to increase queues for non-urgent care in primary health care, for example due to increased corona testing and infection tracking. This is a real risk for future public health, explains the chairman of the situation picture group Tuula Karhula.
The fact that, for example, the section strongly restricting gyms has not been implemented yet, does not mean at all that the situation in the area is not bad.
- The situation in South Karelia is currently the worst that has been seen here during the corona epidemic. Patients in hospital are currently mostly of working age. The average age of hospital patients is 57 years and the median age is 55 years, with an even gender distribution. This age group cannot be protected with a vaccine for a long time, so each of us should act responsibly now. In practice, the easiest thing is to minimize physical contact with other people for a while. However, if contact with another person occurs, for example when going for essential food shopping, you must definitely observe a safety distance of more than two meters and wear a mask and take care of hand and coughing hygiene, underlines Eksoten's chief infectious disease doctor Pekka Suomalainen.
The measures taken now will not show up in infections until a couple of weeks later, as the incubation period for the coronavirus is 1–14 days. In the case of the need for hospital treatment, the actions taken now will not be seen until 2-3 weeks later.
By protecting yourself, you also protect others
Regionally, it now seems that there are practically no cross-border infections in South Karelia. Most infections have been acquired within the family or from a trip to the village. In the figures, infections acquired from the workplace are also emphasized to some extent.
- These infections caused by visiting the villages seem to be a clear trend now. Based on them, I say that now is the time to weed out the rest of the few close contacts that are not necessary, says Karhula.
- The coronavirus is transmitted through human contact. The disease caused by the coronavirus is an infectious disease; we have emphasized for several weeks that by reducing contacts, the ability of the coronavirus to spread in South Karelia also decreases. Now is the time to act, reminds Karhula.
Visiting the village would now have to be given up for a few weeks.
Stay home!
- The situation is on a knife's edge in terms of how things are going in our South Karelia. When the nationwide lockdown ends, we may not be able to get rid of the restrictions in South Karelia, says Karhula.
As far as the authorities are concerned, the available means are now in use, there are only measures left to target children and young people, and they will be avoided in the future as well.
- We cannot do more from the authorities, the rest is up to the residents of the area. Do we want to follow these recommendations here? Do we really reduce close contacts and necessary expenses, no matter how tiring? We are all tired, but now we should still be able to cope, commented the participants of the snapshot group.
- If corona infections spread in the province to, for example, early childhood education or food service units, it will have an impact on many organizations that are important in terms of security of supply in the region. Infections must be brought under control now, states the development manager of welfare services of the city of Lappeenranta Sanna Natunen.
Children can get sick with the coronavirus, but they spread it weakly. Infections in kindergartens and schools have been monitored nationally for a year, but only a small number of subsequent infections have arisen from these. In addition, the disease is often very mild in children, but the effects caused by the restrictions are clearly reflected in their ability to function or well-being.
It is feared that domestic violence is happening even in South Karelia right now in secret, however, the number of child protection notifications has leveled off since the spring collapse. In this long-lasting crisis, special care must be taken of children. If you are concerned, you can make a child protection report at the bottom of the front page of Eksoten's website.
- We receive feedback about why not all schools in the Eksote area are closed. There is a big threshold for closing elementary schools. At no point will the youngest schoolchildren be transferred to distance education, this is aligned at the national level. Primary schools are also not a risk in the overall picture of the corona, opens Karhula.
It is the employer's responsibility to protect the employee
Workplaces are now being urged to take all available measures to combat the epidemic.
- Those workplaces where remote work is possible must switch to it now at the latest. We have already reminded you that remote work reduces the risk of employees falling ill. If remote work is not possible, it should be checked that all other measures have been implemented, instructs Karhula.
It is the employer's responsibility to find out the harmful and dangerous factors that occur at work, both at the workplace and remote work. The importance of harmful and dangerous factors for the health and safety of employees must be assessed and the necessary measures taken to combat them. The employer must assess the necessity of arriving at the workplace from the perspective of the employees' health. If the employer allows or obliges employees to come to the workplace, the employees must be given instructions on how the work can be done so that there is no risk of infection.
For more information: https://stm.fi/etatyot-koronavirustilanteessa
More information for the media:
Tuula Karhula, chairman of the snapshot group, director of health and elderly services, Eksote, tel. 040 194 4936, wind.bear
exote.fi (tuula[dot]karhula[at]eksote[dot]fi)
Kristiina Kapulainen, secretary of the situation picture group, safety and preparedness manager, Eksote, phone 040 651 1791, kristiina. kapulainenexote.fi (kristiina[dot]kapulainen[at]eksote[dot]fi)
Recommendations valid in South Karelia
Section 58 d of the Infectious Diseases Act:
The Regional Administrative Agency of Southern Finland obliges operators in the Eksote area to ensure that people do not come into close contact with each other in the premises intended for customers and participants. The order is based on the new section 58 d of the Infectious Diseases Act and is valid from 5.3. – 31.3.2021. More information on AVI's website: https://avi.fi/yleistiedoksiannot and from the release: https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/tilojen-terveysturvallista-kayttoa-tehostettava-etela-suomen-alueella---toimijoiden-pitaa-varmistaa-asiakkaiden-turvavalit?publisherId=69818103&releaseId=69902738
Private events:
A gathering limit of six people is valid for private events.
Public events and general meetings:
There is a gathering limit of six people.
Mask recommendation:
The mask recommendation is valid in public transport, including school rides and taxi drivers and passengers.
Otherwise, the mask recommendation for the spread phase is valid according to THL instructions for people over 12 years old:
- 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 primary schools from the sixth grade and in secondary educational institutions (including upper secondary schools) and universities
- In all work communities, as well as in the indoor spaces of hobby and volunteer activities, if more than one person works and stays in the same space.
- In public indoor spaces and public events (Shops and shopping centers, post offices, banks, libraries and other similar indoor spaces / Spaces used for exercise or sports and their monitoring (at least public spaces and changing rooms) / Swimming pools, spas and saunas (public spaces and changing spaces) / Churches and others facilities of religious communities / Concert halls and other facilities used for the performance of live music / Cinemas and other facilities used for the presentation of films and other similar audiovisual works / Museums and galleries / Amusement and theme parks and attractions if indoor / Facilities 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 2 meters away from other people.
Organization of teaching:
The Regional Administrative Agency of Southern Finland has ordered the closure of the premises of educational institutions in its entire region in accordance with the Government's policy for the period between March 8 and March 28.3.2021, XNUMX. The decisions concern middle schools of basic education. The decision to close the facilities does not apply to elementary school students. Even for special support students, teaching continues as face-to-face teaching. Second-level education can be organized as distance learning without a decision by the regional administrative agency to close the premises of educational institutions.
Second-level education and middle school classes will be moved to distance education from March 8.3.2021, 28.3.21, with the exception of face-to-face education deemed necessary by the education organizer. Distance education is recommended to be continued at least until 5.4.2021. Second-level distance education is recommended to be extended until April XNUMX, XNUMX.
Early childhood education and basic education for grades 1–6 will continue as before.
The mask recommendation is valid for everyone over the age of 12 and on all school rides.
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.
Nationally, the government recommends that higher education institutions switch to distance education, however, taking into account the needs of essential close-in education.
Teaching at Citizens College is suspended to the extent that it is not possible to implement it as distance learning.
Public spaces:
The situation picture group recommends municipalities to close public facilities to the public.
Museums and youth facilities are recommended to be closed. If necessary, the youth facilities can be used for individual meetings, as well as the operation of the Cockpits can be continued with a limit of 6 people.
Regarding libraries, they are allowed to continue lending and returning activities in accordance with the restrictions, it is not recommended to continue the operation of library cars. Libraries' events have already been canceled and their lounges, such as the magazine rooms, have been recommended to be closed.
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.
According to the recommendation of the situational group, swimming pools and sports facilities are still allowed to be used for activities according to the curriculum and for the implementation of group hobby activities for those born in 2008 or younger and for the use of top athletes.
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.
The government recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to countries other than countries that are not subject to entry restrictions. Quarantine matters related to travel, the latest travel information and up-to-date instructions can be found on the pages of those responsible for the matter:
THL: Traveling and the coronavirus pandemic >>
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Latest travel information >>
Self-imposed quarantine
THL advises: If you arrive in Finland from a country that is red or gray in the traffic light model, we recommend a 14-day self-imposed quarantine upon arrival in Finland. It is recommended that you do not go to the workplace or anywhere else outside the home, but stay at home. This is how you protect others from infection. Agree with your employer on the operating procedures for 14 days after your return from the trip.
It is recommended that the child does not participate in early childhood education while he is in self-imposed quarantine. It is recommended that a child in primary education stay at home. Agree with the organizer of the lesson about the special arrangements of the lesson.
Finland abroad websites / Russia: https://finlandabroad.fi/web/rus/etusivu
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.
The remote meeting recommendation for institutions has entered into force on February 25.2.2020, XNUMX.
Group hobbies of people born in 2008 or younger:
Hobby activities for children born in 2008 or younger are allowed indoors in small groups of no more than 10 people. Outside, the group size is 20 people. The number of people includes the instructor(s) of the group.
It is recommended that family sports and family activities be put on hold.
See detailed instructions regarding the organization of hobby activities below.
Group hobby activities for those born in 2001–2007:
All indoor group activities for those born between 2001 and 2007 will be discontinued. Outdoor hobbies are allowed for those born between 2001 and 2007. The group size must then be a maximum of 20 people. The number of 20 people already includes the instructor(s) of the group.
See detailed instructions regarding the organization of hobby activities below.
In accordance with the above recommendations, instructions detailing the organization of group hobby activities born in 2001 and after:
The activity should always be organized avoiding close contact, taking into account safety distances of more than 2 meters. Groups must not mix. It is the responsibility of the organizer of the hobby activity to act in accordance with the instructions and recommendations.
We emphasize the responsibility of every operator and adult to follow the instructions of the Institute of Health and Welfare and other authorities regarding hygiene and other arrangements to prevent the spread of the virus. It is the adults' responsibility to ensure that the children also follow the instructions.
- You can only participate in the activity if you are symptom-free
- The recommended safety distance (at least 2 m) is observed
- Good hand and coughing hygiene is followed
- The cleaning instructions of the Institute of Occupational Health are taken into account
- We give the necessary instructions to the participants and make sure they are followed
- We will act so that those exposed in cases of illness can be traced
- Regional and local restrictions and recommendations are taken into account
OKM and THL have instructed that if children's and young people's hobby activities are carried out during the spreading phase, it is very important that it is carried out only as a group's own hobby or training activity without competition events, concerts, performances, shows or other such situations where the group comes into contact with other hobby groups.
Also, the teachers, instructors and coaches should always be the same, and it is not possible for parents to stay in the hobby and dressing rooms.
Group hobby activities for adults
All group hobby activities must be suspended for everyone born in 2000 and older. Rehabilitative activities may continue if they can be carried out with safety distances of more than two meters and within the framework of other recommendations.
Adult Championship level and 1st division match and game activities:
The recommendations and decisions do not apply to professional sports, which means sports activities based on a series license agreement or the Olympic Committee's athlete agreement, as well as A national team activities when they are practiced without the presence of the public. In practice, this means limiting professional sports to elite sports, covering the two highest league levels in ball sports, adult A national team activities, and athletes preparing for international competitions through the selection system of the national sports association. The decision also does not apply to youth national team activities and the third-highest national league levels in football and ice hockey, where the players are professionals based on a written player contract. In football, this means the men's Second Division and in ice hockey, the men's Finnish series.
If the matches/games are played so-called for empty stands (there is no audience), it is not an audience event. In this case, the game is not prohibited under the order of the regional administrative agency.
If there is an audience, the regional administrative agency's regulation on the number of audiences applies to the event. Matches and games are allowed for adult SM, 1-div and U20 teams, if a South Karelian team participates in the games and matches/tournaments.
Proceedings:
It is not recommended to organize events. In South Karelia, you can organize events for less than six people, if you are able to follow the instructions of the Department of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Culture regarding safety distances and hygiene practices with absolute precision and in all respects.
Additional information for event organizers on the website of the Regional Administration Office: https://avi.fi/usein-kysyttya-koronaviruksesta
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
The situation picture group hopes that the population will now finally take the situation seriously
- Don't go to the gym or do indoor exercise.
- Outdoor exercise is recommended when you can avoid close contact with other people.
- Do not go to the village, but meet essential contacts outside with a safety distance.
- If you go to the store, wear a mask. Avoid all other business.
- Handle all transactions electronically that you can handle.
- See a doctor if you need to and take care of routine visits related to basic diseases - it's safe!
- Get a corona test if you have even mild symptoms suggestive of the coronavirus.
- Can you still hold on!
