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Restrictions are being adhered to in South Karelia The situational group urges residents to avoid travel
The 20-person gathering limit set by the Regional Administration Office, which means all indoor and outdoor events, including the recommendation for hobby activities, is still valid. The regional situational group has previously put into effect a 10-person gathering restriction for private individuals after South Karelia moved into the acceleration phase.
The situation picture group hopes that South Karelia will follow the instructions, recommendations and restrictions given regarding corona prevention carefully in the future as well.
As South Karelia is in the acceleration phase, it is not possible to relax the restrictions on leisure time that are valid for the time being.
- The regional situation is currently stable and the infection situation is well under control, but variants of the virus can change the situation quickly, says the chairman of the regional situation picture group Tuula Karhula.
- Recommendations and restrictions must still be followed. A virus transformation can quickly change the situation in a more serious direction. We can't loosen the restrictions yet.
It has been hoped at the national level that the restrictions will not be relaxed in the regions. Basically, the recommendations will remain the same in February as well. However, the situation is constantly evaluated and, if necessary, we react in one direction or another.
The situation at the border crossings at the pre-Christmas level
Traffic volumes at border crossings in South Karelia have stabilized after Christmas and New Year. National guidelines are followed in cross-border traffic and individuals are encouraged to take voluntary corona tests.
Eksote has started two different pilots related to border crossing in cooperation with Kymsote and Raja. Kymsote conducts coronavirus tests for border crossers in passenger transport at the border, and Eksote contacts people arriving in the country in cooperation with the border authorities.
The pilot period is in both the Eksoten and Kymsote area from January 19.1 to February 7.2.2021, XNUMX. In addition to the Eksoten and Kymsote municipal corporations, STM's preparedness unit, the Health and Welfare Department THL, the Regional Administration Office, HUS Diagnostics, the Border Guard of Southeast Finland and Customs have participated in the planning of the pilots.
- Support material is produced for the borders to guide passengers. We hope that we can prevent different variants of the corona virus from entering the region, and one of the ways to do this is to reduce the number of immigrants and the most active corona testing of individuals crossing the border and arriving in the country, says Tuula Karhula - Now you really have to think about whether you absolutely have to make the trip now or can I skip traveling ?
Recommendations/guidelines related to exercise
In the region of the province of South Karelia, the aim is to secure children's and young people's hobby activities and training for as long as possible, taking into account the hygiene instructions and the instructions of the sports federations. The regional recommendations otherwise remain the same, but the recommendations are specified in relation to exercise and gaming as follows:
Children and young people
The regional snapshot group recommends that children's and young people's play activities, camping trips, or the like should not be carried out within the province or between other provinces.
Due to the modified coronavirus, THL recommends completely avoiding traveling to Britain, South Africa and Ireland. All other travel, both domestically and abroad, should also be limited to what is necessary at the moment. The recommendation is valid until February 28.2.2021, XNUMX, unless there are clarifications from the national level.
The youth sports academy operating in the cities of Imatra and Lappeenranta can continue to operate if all valid safety instructions can be followed. It is not recommended to mix different age groups, unless they normally meet in hobby activities.
Adults
Indoor group hobby activities for adults (over 20 years old) are not recommended in team and contact sports. The recommendation is valid until February 28.2.2021, XNUMX, unless there are clarifications from the national level.
Training can be allowed in accordance with the Olympic Committee's guidelines for Championship and 1st division levels and national team athletes. Similarly, game/match activities are possible for SM and 1st division level athletes and the U20 series.
In team sports for adults, i.e. over 20 years old, it is possible to train outdoors, taking into account the gathering restrictions and health safety instructions.
- The area's ball clubs have asked for an interpretation on whether the so-called bubble halls for indoor or outdoor space. Basically, I would consider them limited indoor spaces, says Tuula Karhula.
The recommendations given at the meeting have been prepared based on the sports activities of the cities of Imatra and Lappeenranta and feedback from local sports clubs. The situation picture group considered them appropriate clarifications to the already existing recommendations. The situation picture group changes recommendations and instructions when the situation requires it.
The recommendations described above are valid, if no other instructions are received from the national level. From South Karelia, it has been appealed that e.g. the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and THL would take a stand on issues related to gaming. So far no guidelines have been received.
The aforementioned recommendations aim to secure training opportunities and hobbies. These measures can be used to prevent exposure and new disease chains to our region from children's and young people's play trips.
For more information:
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 snapshot group, safety and preparedness manager, Eksote, phone 040 651 1791, kristiina. kapulainenexote.fi (kristiina[dot]kapulainen[at]eksote[dot]fi)
Updated recommendations:
The situation picture group has decided on 1.12.2020 December 3.12.2020 to put the following recommendations into effect from 31.1.2021 December 3.12.2020 to 19.1.2021 January 29.12.2020. The recommendations were supplemented on 2021 December XNUMX and XNUMX January XNUMX, on XNUMX December XNUMX their validity was extended until the end of January 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, 31.1.21, with the exception of face-to-face education deemed necessary by the organizer of the education. Distance education is recommended to be continued at least until XNUMX.
Early childhood education and basic education 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.
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 group hobby activities for people over the age of 20 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. Athletes may gather 20 people at a time.
Match and game operations
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 the public is present, the occasion is subject to the order of the regional administrative agency and the limit of 20 people. When spectators are separated from players and maintenance staff (e.g. in a separate stand), spectators are subject to their own 20-person limit, and players, including officials and maintenance staff, are subject to their own 20-person limit.
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 according to THL's instructions for over 12 years old:
- People apply for a coronavirus test on the way to sampling 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 elementary schools from the sixth grade and in secondary educational institutions (including high 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 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 From the website of the Regional Administration Office
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 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.
