The very contagious Omicron variant continues to spread in South Karelia – the situation assessment workgroup pleads with people to have themselves vaccinated, to stay home if they develop symptoms, and to follow good hygiene practices: to wash their hands, wear a face mask, and maintain safe distances
The regional COVID-19 situation assessment workgroup of South Karelia met on 11 January 2022 and stated that the incidence rate is currently very high in the area and that the number is increasing rapidly due to the Omicron variant.
In the week preceding the meeting, a total of 3,900 tests were taken, of which around 13% were positive. The 14-day incidence rate is currently 687.5 / 100,000, which is worryingly high. The share of young people stands out; most of the new cases have been diagnosed among 20–29-year-olds.
No new restrictions were issued at the meeting concerning the region. The situation will be assessed again next week on 18 January 2022. The aim is to avoid imposing additional restrictions on children and young people in order to secure their opportunities to participate in leisure activities and youth club activities.
─ Children and young people must be able to exercise, which means that we do not wish to restrict the group leisure activities of children and young people and the closing of premises used for leisure activities is not supported, says the vice chair of the situation assessment workgroup Marjo Numminen.
Suspending the leisure activities of adults is, on the other hand, emphasised in the deteriorating COVID-19 situation, as this has not been, as yet, done in our area despite the recommendations. The situation assessment workgroup recommended a week ago that high-risk and medium-risk team sports and group leisure activities of adults be disrupted until 23 January 2022.
─ We hope that adults would assume more responsibility in this difficult epidemic situation to avoid a situation where more strict restrictions will need to be issued in the area, says Numminen.
The Omicron variant is very contagious, and unvaccinated people are more likely to catch it and to develop a severe form of the disease
The main message of Eksote’s chief infectious diseases physician Pekka Suomalainen to the residents is that unvaccinated adults should avoid contacts with other people, whenever possible. Unvaccinated people spread the virus more when ill and can also infect vaccinated people.
The number of COVID-19 cases is currently so high that all unvaccinated and also many vaccinated people are at risk of catching the virus. However, two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine provide good protection against a severe form of the disease, and the protection provided by three doses is even better: the third dose also reduces the amount of the virus that an infected person can shed.
According to chief infectious diseases physician Pekka Suomalainen, the Omicron variant mainly affects the upper airways, where it cannot get into the lung tissue.
─ Omicron is an extremely contagious virus, because it spreads more effectively into the environment from the upper airways when the person coughs and sneezes, says chief infectious diseases physician Pekka Suomalainen and underlines the importance of preventive measures.
─ If you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, avoid public places. If you develop symptoms, stay at home. Remember to follow good hygiene practices in crowded indoor premises: wash or sanitise your hands, wear a face mask, and maintain a safe distance to others.
The quick spreading of the Omicron variant and the increased number of new cases have caused infection tracking to become overwhelmed. It will not be possible to contact everyone whose test result comes back positive by telephone. People whose test result is positive will receive operating instructions in a text message. Persons who have caught the virus must self-quarantine for ten days and notify everyone they have met of the possible exposure to the virus. A link to the bulletin published by Eksote on 7 January 2022 https://www.epressi.com/tiedotteet/terveys/koronapositiivisten-tartunnanjaljitys-on-ruuhkautunut-etela-karjalassa.html (in Finnish)
The mask recommendation remains valid in all public indoor premises and for pupils and students from the third grade onwards
As the spring term has started, the situation assessment workgroup reminds that pupils and students must use a face mask from the third grade onwards. Vaccinations, the administration of which to children has been started, give children a good immunological response, which protects them, to some extent, already after the first dose.
The situation assessment workgroup emphasises that a face mask must continue to be used in all crowded public indoor premises due to the contagiousness of the Omicron variant.
COVID-19 vaccination events without an appointment on Sunday 16 January 2022
Eksote has organised vaccination events where people can have themselves vaccinated without an appointment. These vaccination events have been successful and have received plenty of positive feedback from the residents.
Vaccination events without an appointment:
Vaccinations provide good protection against a severe form of the coronavirus disease. The situation assessment workgroup thanks the residents of South Karelia for their activity: 90.2 % of people living in the region have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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