The regional COVID-19 situation assessment workgroup of South Karelia stated at its meeting on 4 January 2021 that the epidemic is still in the acceleration phase in South Karelia. The three stages of an epidemic are the baseline, acceleration, and spreading phases.
The restriction issued by AVI, based on which gatherings must be limited to 20 people and which is applied to all indoor and outdoor events, including leisure time activities, will remain in force until the end of January. The regional situation assessment workgroup previously issued a restriction that limits private gatherings to 10 people when South Karelia entered the acceleration phase.
The situation assessment workgroup hopes that the residents will follow the instructions provided on the prevention of the coronavirus epidemic carefully in South Karelia.
– We have received feedback stating that people who cannot wear a mask due to medical reasons are looked at disapprovingly in public places. Not everyone can wear a mask due to reasons related to their health. The use of a mask is highly recommended, if possible. However, it should be kept in mind that, regardless of whether you can or cannot wear a mask, maintaining a safe distance from others, good hand and coughing hygiene, and having yourself tested for Covid-19 in a timely manner are very important. Together, these measures can help us slow down the spread of the epidemic, says the chair of the regional situation assessment workgroup Tuula Karhula.
If you feel unwell, it is imperative that you stay at home. You must not participate in early childhood education or go to school or work, if unwell. The same applies when you return to Finland from abroad.
– For example, if you have been to Russia during the holidays, you must stay at home for 10 days before going back to school, day care, or work. To be referred to a coronavirus test after your trip, please call 116 117, instructs Karhula.
The remote teaching recommendation of secondary education will be continued in South Karelia. Any necessary contact teaching classes can be organised for final-year upper secondary school students or students with special needs. Careful consideration must be applied to the organisation of revision and other courses.
– It is of vital importance that people do not participate in contact teaching if they have symptoms or if they have been abroad. The aim is to organise contact teaching without endangering the final exams, and the students must act responsibly in this situation, says Development Manager of the City of Lappeenranta’s Welfare Services Sanna Natunen and the Head of the City of Imatra’s Welfare Services Arja Kujala.
– Each municipality will independently make the decision on whether teaching will be organised as contact or remote teaching based, e.g., on the size of the institution. However, the situation assessment workgroup issues a recommendation that applies to the entire region, says Karhula.
The mask recommendation will remain valid in secondary education and school transportation.
Eksote: https://www.eksote.fi/Koronavirus/
City of Lappeenranta: https://www.lappeenranta.fi/fi/Kaupunki-tiedottaa/Koronavirustilanne
City of Imatra: https://www.imatra.fi/korona
Lemi: https://leminkunta2020.lianacms.com/ajankohtaista/koronatiedotteet.html
Luumäki: https://www.luumaki.fi/koronavirustilanne-tietoa-ohjeita-linkkeja
Parikkala: http://parikkala.fi/fi
Ruokolahti: https://www.ruokolahti.fi/suomeksi/Kuntatietoa/korona
Rautjärvi: http://www.rautjarvi.fi/fi
Savitaipale: https://www.savitaipale.fi/
Taipalsaari: https://taipalsaari.fi/fi/Koronavirustilanne
On 1 December 2020, the situation assessment workgroup decided to issue the following recommendations that will remain valid from 3 December 2020 to 31 January 2021. These recommendations were supplemented on 3 December 2020 and 29 December 2020, and their validity was extended to the end of January 2021. The recommendations will be applied to the authorities, the general public, business operators, and education organisers:
Private events:
Private events must have a maximum of 10 participants.
Education organisers:
It is recommended that secondary education shifts to remote learning starting on 7 December 2020, except for any contact teaching that is considered to be necessary by the organiser of the education. It is recommended that remote teaching be continued, at least, until 31 January 2021.
Early education and basic education will be continued as before.
A mask recommendation will be given to education organisers, also in school transportation. The education organiser must provide masks for children and young adults whose school transportation is their responsibility. Children and young adults who come to school by using public transport must acquire the masks themselves.
Public premises:
Events of the libraries will be cancelled and it is recommended that social premises, such as newspaper reading rooms, be closed. Book lending and returning activities will continue. The customers are requested to stay in the library premises only for the period of time that is necessary and to favour advance reservations. Wearing a mask in the library premises is strongly recommended.
The number of customers in museums and youth premises is limited to 20. It is recommended that youth activities be partly moved online, but youth premises can be kept open at the discretion of each municipality, when the prohibition of gatherings of over 20 persons is observed.
Group activities:
It is recommended that indoor and outdoor group activities for people over 20 years of age be interrupted in team and contact sports.
Indoor and outdoor group activities for children and young people can be continued subject to careful consideration, when the prohibition of gatherings of over 20 persons is observed. Risks typical of the type of sports must be observed in group activities. If leisure time activities are not disrupted, the instructions of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, based on which it must be possible to avoid close contact between the participants and the persons bringing the children to the location, must be observed.
To secure the training of professional and competitive athletes, training can be continued if it is safe and it is possible to comply with the gathering restrictions and the instructions provided on gatherings. The maximum number of spectators in a separate auditorium is 20, but only if it can be ensured that the spectators and the athletes do not come into contact with each other. The maximum number of athletes that can be present simultaneously is 20.
Travelling:
Travelling between Finland and Russia must be avoided.
It is recommended that all travelling to areas that are in the spreading phase be avoided. In particular, travelling should be avoided to areas where the coronavirus situation is worse than in South Karelia. Travelling to ski centres in the North of Finland and abroad should also be avoided.
Remote working:
It is recommended that all employers in South Karelia organise remote working in all work tasks that can be completed remotely, even temporarily. If remote working is not an option, it is recommended that the employer advices the employees to use a face mask in all work premises, even when safe distances can be maintained. Meals and coffee breaks must be staggered. Work and business trips and contact teaching events are not recommended.
Mask recommendation:
The mask recommendation is valid in public transport, including school transport and taxi drivers and customers.
In other respects, the mask recommendation of the acceleration phase is valid in accordance with THL’s instructions in the following situations and for the following persons:
• Persons who are to be tested for coronavirus when on the way to the testing location and before the result is known, if they must leave home for a necessary reason.
• Passengers arriving to Finland from a high-risk area, when they move from the point of arrival to quarantine or if they must leave home for a necessary reason.
• In secondary education institutions (including upper secondary school) and tertiary education.
• In public indoor premises and public events (Stores and shopping centres, post offices, banks, libraries, and other similar indoor premises / Premises used for sports and exercising and related auditoriums (at the very minimum, common premises and dressing rooms) / Swimming pools, spas, and saunas / Concert halls and other premises used for performing live music / Cinemas and other premises used for the showing of movies and other similar audio-visual works / Museums and galleries / Amusement and theme parks and tourist attractions, if they include indoor premises / Premises used for gambling and betting).
Customer service points must be equipped with plexiglass shields. Employers must provide masks or protective face shields for customer service workers who work less than 1.5 metres from other people.
Events:
The organisation of events is not recommended. During the acceleration phase, events of the maximum of 20 people can be organised if it is possible to comply with the instructions provided by THL and the Ministry of Education and Culture on safe distances and hygiene practices precisely and in all respects.
Further information for event organisers on the Regional State Administrative Agency’s website: https://avi.fi/usein-kysyttya-koronaviruksesta
Instructions for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in connection to public meetings and assembly, and in public premises: https://minedu.fi/documents/1410845/22330894/Ohje+yleis%C3%B6tilaisuuksiin+yleisiin+kokoontumisiin+ja+julkisten+tilojen+k%C3%A4ytt%C3%B6%C3%B6n+21.9.2020.pdf/bef30f76-8187-9d78-1444-bb0686c8eeb6/Ohje+yleis%C3%B6tilaisuuksiin+yleisiin+kokoontumisiin+ja+julkisten+tilojen+k%C3%A4ytt%C3%B6%C3%B6n+21.9.2020.pdf?version=1.4&t=1604562383408
The situation in the rest of Finland and the valid restrictions and recommendations of other hospital districts can be found on the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare website under Regional situation. The page can also be accessed through the link found on the Eksote website at www.eksote.fi/koronavirus
The current stage of the epidemic in South Karelia is specified by the infectious disease authorities, together with the regional COVID-19 situation assessment workgroup. The South Karelian COVID-19 situation assessment workgroup includes representatives of the South Karelia Social and Health Care District, the municipalities, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Regional State Administrative Agency, and the local ELY Centre. In addition to the number of and the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the stage of the epidemic depends e.g. on the traceability of infection chains and whether the virus was acquired within or from outside the region. The epidemic situation can change rapidly locally or regionally, even when the national situation is stable. The local COVID-19 situation assessment workgroup meets once a week, unless more frequent meetings are required.
Additional information for the media:
Tuula Karhula, Chair of the situation assessment workgroup, Director of the Health and Elderly Services, Eksote, tel. +358 40 194 4936, [email protected]
Kristiina Kapulainen, Secretary of the situation assessment workgroup, Head of Safety and Preparedness, Eksote, tel. +358 40 651 1791, [email protected]
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