Coronavirus
Controlling the corona epidemic aims to minimize contacts.

Exote information: South Karelia is moving into the acceleration phase of the epidemic

Release
1.12.2020 18:37
Read the new provincial recommendations here.

South Karelia's regional COVID-19 situational group has stated in an extra meeting on December 1.12.2020, XNUMX: The coronavirus epidemic is in the acceleration phase in the South Karelia region. The three phases of an epidemic are the base level, the acceleration phase and the spreading phase.

This week, new recommendations will be given to South Karelia in addition to the previously valid ones. The recommendations enter into force on December 3.12.2020, XNUMX and are valid until the end of the year. The situation picture group hopes that South Karelia will carefully follow the instructions, recommendations and restrictions on corona prevention.

- Now we can still influence the fact that the epidemic in South Karelia stops at this stage of acceleration. Every citizen is now required to take responsible actions, emphasizes the chairman of the regional situation picture group Tuula Karhula.

The epidemic situation in South Karelia is getting worse

A big change is happening locally in the coronavirus epidemic, which may also affect the filling of hospital places.

- There has been a change in the age of those exposed among those exposed and those who have become ill. In the past, there were mostly young people in both groups, but now older people are also getting sick, says the chief infectious disease doctor Pekka Suomalainen.

- About 70 percent of the origin of corona infections can be found out at the moment. There have been two mass exposures in the past week, describes the regional situation, Eksoten's chief physician of outpatient health care Minna Häyhä.

All gatherings of more than 20 people are prohibited in the area

The Regional Administrative Agency of Southern Finland (AVI) has made a decision on November 30.11.2020, 1, which also affects South Karelia. The decision concerning South Karelia, related to the basic level, is valid throughout December (December 31.12.2020-50, XNUMX) and in the region the ban applies to gatherings of more than XNUMX people.

With the transition to the acceleration phase, the decision will become stricter and AVI will in the next few days put into force the restrictions according to the acceleration phase. During the acceleration phase, events of less than 20 people can only be organized (December 3.12-31.12.2020, XNUMX), but in this case, the instructions of the Department of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Culture regarding safe distances and hygiene practices must be followed absolutely precisely and in all respects.

Of these occasions, too, only the most necessary gatherings should be organized, such as statutory and statutory meetings of companies and associations. Meetings are recommended to be arranged remotely whenever possible. The Regional Administrative Agency strongly recommends avoiding all physical gatherings that do not have to be organized.

Any extra close contact should be avoided

The decision of the Regional Administrative Agency of Southern Finland applies to public events such as markets, concerts, theater performances and sports matches where there is an audience. The authority of the regional administration office does not extend to private events, such as evening parties or family gatherings, nor to normal, continuous service operations. The regional snapshot group has given recommendations on organizing private events, which everyone should follow for their part. In South Karelia, a gathering limit of 10 people applies to private events.

All close contacts with other people that are not necessary should be left out in this situation.

For more information: http://www.avi.fi/web/avi/-/kokoontumisrajoitukset-kiristyvat-kanta-hameen-kymenlaakson-ja-etela-karjalan-sairaanhoitopiirien-alueilla-joulukuussa

 

The phase of the current epidemic in South Karelia is determined by the infectious disease authorities together with the region's COVID-19 situational picture group. South Karelia's COVID-19 snapshot group includes representatives from South Karelia's social and health district, municipalities, the Department of Health and Welfare, the regional administration agency and the ELY center. In addition to the number and growth of infections, defining the stage of the epidemic is also influenced by, for example, the ability to explain the chains of infection and whether the infections originate from one's own area or from elsewhere. The epidemic situation can change quickly locally or regionally, even if the national situation is calm. The regional COVID-19 situation picture group meets weekly or more often if necessary.

 

More information for the media:

Tuula Karhula, chairman of the snapshot group, director of health and elderly services, Eksote, tel. 040 194 4936, wind.bearatexote.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. kapulainenatexote.fi (kristiina[dot]kapulainen[at]eksote[dot]fi)

The situation picture group has decided to put the following recommendations into effect from 3.12 December to 31.12.2020 December XNUMX.

The recommendations are valid for the authorities, the population, the operators of activities and the organizers of education

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.

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. 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:

  • Mask recommendation for the acceleration phase in accordance with THL instructions in the following situations and for the following persons:
  • In public transport
  • 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 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 1,5 meters away from other people.
  • Proceedings:
  • It is not recommended to organize events. During the acceleration phase, events of less than 20 people can be organized, if you are able to follow the instructions of the Department of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Culture regarding safe distances and hygiene practices with absolute precision and in all respects.
  • Additional information for event organizers on the website of the Regional Administration Office: http://www.avi.fi/web/avi/usein-kysytyt-kysymykset

Instructions on preventing coronavirus infections in connection with public events and general gatherings and when using public facilities: http://www.avi.fi/documents/10191/17217812/OKM-THL_Ohje+yleis%C3%B6tilaisuuksiin+yleisiin+kokoontumisiin+ja+julkisten+tilojen+k%C3%A4yt%C3%B6ss%C3%A4_FI.pdf/6562b3bd-1698-4c24-9223-77b8afd0b81e

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