The regional COVID-19 situation assessment workgroup of South Karelia stated at its meeting on 9 February 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 the Regional State Administrative Agency (AVI) on 27 January 2021, based on which gatherings must be limited to 20 people and which is applied to all indoor and outdoor events, will remain in force until the end of February. The regional situation assessment workgroup previously issued a restriction that limits private gatherings to 10 people. It is advisable to avoid even small gatherings, whenever possible.
The situation assessment workgroup hopes that the residents will follow the instructions provided on the prevention of the coronavirus epidemic carefully in South Karelia. The deteriorated situation can cause the region to enter the spreading phase quickly due to the spread of the new coronavirus variant, possible mass exposures, or neglect to comply with the recommendations.
– For a while, the occurrence rate in the Eksote area was among the lowest in Finland. The situation has now become worse and the so-called UK variant has also been found in our area, says the Vice Chair of the regional COVID-19 situation assessment workgroup Marjo Numminen.
Before now, only a few cases caused by a coronavirus variant has been confirmed in the Eksote area. The number of infections caused by coronavirus variants are now also on the increase.
– The mutated versions of the virus spread very easily and, therefore, pose a risk of even extensive mass exposures and further infections, says the chief infectious diseases physician Pekka Suomalainen.
Suomalainen reminds the importance of having yourself tested for coronavirus promptly if you have symptoms. Taking the test in a timely manner leaves more time for tracking down the source of the infection and any other persons who may have been exposed to the virus before they develop symptoms. The spread of COVID-19 can be slowed down, if persons who have been exposed to the virus are tracked down and ordered to quarantine in time.
– We cannot afford to relax the recommendations at the moment. Maintaining a safe distance of over two metres, avoiding crowds, using a mask in places where other people are present, and washing hands frequently are the most effective means to be taken by anyone, says senior physician Sami Raasakka from Eksote’s outpatient care.
Eksote advises the residents to have themselves tested if they have symptoms of the coronavirus disease. Schoolchildren must be tested immediately when symptoms develop. Go to www.omaolo.fi to book a coronavirus test. In the Omaolo service, a parent or guardian can also fill in a symptom assessment of the symptoms of their child. If the use of the online service is not an option, please contact your own wellbeing and healthcare centre or, during stand-by hours, call 116 117 to book a test. The contact details of the wellbeing and healthcare centres can be found on Eksote’s website: https://www.eksote.fi/Koronavirus/toimintaohjeet/
The clinical presentation of the disease can vary from symptom-free to a serious infection. The symptoms can also vary depending on the stage of the disease.
The symptoms include a headache, changes in the sense of taste and smell, a runny or congested nose, a cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, muscle pain, a sore or rough throat, a fever, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
It cannot be determined, based on the symptoms alone, whether they are caused by coronavirus or some other virus or bacteria.
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://www.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
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 until 28 February 2021.
Early education and basic education will be continued as before.
The mask recommendation applies to all persons aged 12 or over, and to all school transportation.
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 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. A maximum of 20 persons, including the athletes and the coaches, can be present at any one time.
Matches and playing at the Finnish Championship and the first division levels (adults)
If matches/games are played without an audience, they are not public events. This means that such matches are not forbidden based on the regulation of the Regional State Administrative Agency.
If there is an audience, the regulation of the Regional State Administrative Agency and the need to limit gatherings to 20 people will apply. When the audience is separated from the players and the maintenance personnel (e.g., in a separate auditorium), the 20-person restriction is applied separately to the audience and the players, the latter of which includes referees and maintenance personnel.
Matches and playing is permitted for Finnish Championship, first division, and U20 level teams of adults, if a South Karelian team is participating in the games and matches/tournaments.
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. Similarly, e.g. tournament trips between regions are not recommended.
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 applied to all persons aged 12 and over, in accordance with THL’s instructions:
• 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 primary education from the sixth form onwards, in secondary education (including upper secondary schools), and in higher education institutions.
• In all work communities, and indoor leisure time activities and voluntary work, when there are several people operating and present in the same premises.
• 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 2 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.
Marjo Numminen, Vice Chair of the situation assessment workgroup, Hospital Director, Eksote, tel. +358 40 127 4200, [email protected]
Kristiina Kapulainen, Secretary of the situation assessment workgroup, Head of Safety and Preparedness, Eksote, tel. +358 40 651 1791, [email protected]
(Sama tiedote suomeksi: https://www.epressi.com/tiedotteet/terveys/tilanne-etela-karjalassa-heikentynyt-viime-viikosta-tilannekuvaryhma-varoittaa-suositusten-laiminlyonnista.html)
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