Situation picture group: the risk of infection and spread still exists in the area

South Karelia's regional COVID-19 situational group stated at its meeting on May 4.5.2021, 1.5 that the coronavirus epidemic is still in the spreading phase in South Karelia. The gathering limit of six people is valid from May 31.5.2021 to May XNUMX, XNUMX.

Some restrictions are being lifted. Group activities in youth facilities can be started gradually, taking care of safety distances of 1–2 meters and health safety instructions, if the composition of the group is established. Youth facilities cannot yet be opened for open activities.

It is currently possible to organize hobby activities for children and young people born in 2001 and younger indoors in small groups of 10 people and outdoors in small groups of up to 20 people. The number of people includes group instructors. You must be able to organize the activity according to the instructions given earlier.

Next week 10.5. however, starting in 2001 and younger can return to normal group sizes in hobby activities, both indoors and outdoors, if the hobby group is established and is based on previous pre-registration. People in the group may not change. The members of the group must be traceable afterwards and the activity must still be organized in a health and safety manner, taking care of, for example, hand hygiene and other valid instructions.

In May, in children's and young people's outdoor activities, short contacts between enthusiasts within their own club can also be allowed. This makes it possible for your own club, in your own municipality or city, to play training games outdoors already in May. However, the safety distance must be taken care of outside of gaming activities, for example when changing clothes.

- It may seem strange that why you can meet a friend up close on the field and not in the locker room, but the coronavirus spreads through close contact. The fewer close contacts, the lower the chances of the virus spreading, says the chairman of the situation picture group Tuula Karhula.

Mixing of teams and contact between teams should still be avoided. All hobbyists must be able to be traced afterwards. Organizing tournament activities is not yet recommended, and it is not recommended to travel to another location to play even practice games. Recommendations regarding the organization of recreational activities are evaluated weekly in accordance with the epidemic situation.

Questions from event organizers

Different authorities have different responsibilities in the coronavirus situation and, for example, recommendations or restrictions regarding restaurants are not decided in South Karelia. Regarding restaurants, the competent authority is the Government, which decides on the matter based on the proposal of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM).

However, the most important thing to remember is that the coronavirus is spread through human contact, and therefore the most important thing in terms of the epidemic is that everyone thinks about which contacts are necessary.

Organizing and participating in events always involves the risk of infections and their further spread.
- The risk of infections and a spreading epidemic cannot be completely prevented in these situations, as long as the virus is circulating in Finland, reminds Eksoten's chief infectious disease doctor Pekka Suomalainen.

Infections from healthy children can spread to the children's close circle. Vaccines partially protect against a serious form of the disease already after the first vaccination, but only the second vaccine provides more effective protection.

Eksote, municipalities and directly to the snapshot group are repeatedly asked whether a certain hobby activity can already be started or whether an event can be organized. The number of people for public events set by the Regional Administrative Agency are restrictions, the situation group's recommendations for meeting private individuals.

- I think you could ask these event organizers themselves what level of infection and epidemic risk they are willing to take with their own activities. In all decision-making related to the corona situation, the risk and benefit ratio of things must be constantly evaluated. In the same way, it is necessary to assess who is responsible if there are infections, emphasizes Suomalainen.

- The answer to the previous question is of course the organizer of the case. It is good for every operator to think about whether they are ready for even a 1 percent total risk that a participant's next of kin will end up in a hospital, intensive care unit, or die due to the situation. This could be, for example, the child's own parent. In infection tracing, we take steps back and review where the epidemic started, Suomalainen adds.

In the snapshot group, we look at the guidelines for the safe organization of larger events. Caps and, for example, rehabilitative group activities are matters that are decided together in the situational group between Eksoten, the municipalities, the Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) and other members of the group. Organizers of other events should follow the general instructions put into effect by STM, THL, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Regional Administration Agency.

It is not yet possible to make regional guidelines for summer camps and summer events. In general, it can be stated that the planning of the events in question can continue and their organization is possible, if the infectious disease situation allows the organization and the organizer is able to follow the health and safety guidelines valid at the time in question. The situation will be assessed closer.

More information for the media:

Tuula Karhula, chairman of the snapshot group, director of health and elderly services, Eksote, tel. 040 194 4936, wind.bearexote.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)