Vaasa Hospital District is again in a spreading phase of the coronavirus epidemic from 23rd of August 2021.

You can check the current situation in Vaasa Hospital District here (coronavirus figures).

Figures of municipality ratings by incidence will no longer be announced. This is based on a decision made by the Ostrobothnia Corona Coordination Group on 19 January 2021. The incidence rate will only be announced as one figure for the whole district. If there is a need for more accurate information, then the district will be defined in three parts: northern, inner and southern. 

In this article, you will see the current recommendations and restrictions related to the coronavirus situation. Information on face mask recommendations, public events, public gatherings and instructions on applying for a corona test and instructions regarding leisure activities are included.

The responsibility for decision-making regarding restriction measures and recommendations lies with different authorities. For this reason, information follows the decisions, instructions, recommendations and restrictions of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Regional State Administrative Agency (AVI) and municipalities.

The epidemiological situation in the area is monitored by the Ostrobothnia Corona Coordination Group, whose recommendations are also compiled here.

Face mask recommendation

  • The use of masks is recommended in the following situations and for the following people until 31 October 2021 (new decission has been made 21 September 2021):

    • Always on public transport and in other public vehicles, such as taxis.
    • In work communities indoors if several people are working or present in the same space.
    • Always in public indoor spaces and in public events, including schools and educational institutions starting from grade 6 of comprehensive school. Examples of indoor spaces and public events:
      • Shops and shopping malls
      • Post offices, banks, libraries, and other similar indoor spaces
      • Spaces used for exercise or sport and for their spectators (public spaces and facilities for changing clothes)
      • Swimming halls, outdoor pools, spas, and saunas (public space and facilities for changing clothes)
      • Churches and other facilities for religious communities
      • Concert halls and other spaces for performing live music
      • Theatres and other facilities used for the performing arts
      • Cinemas and other facilities for watching films and other similar works of audio-visual art
      • Museums and galleries
      • Amusement parks, theme parks and attractions, if they are indoors
      • Festivals and open markets if they are held indoors
      • Congress and fair centres and the facilities used for holding fairs and other similar events
      • Facilities for games of chance and betting services.

     

  • The recommendation applies to everyone over the age of 12 in situations where it is not possible to keep a safe distance from other people.
  • Nursing staff and other staff working in the social welfare and healthcare sector must always use mouth and nose protection or mouth and nose protection and visors, but not only visors. This recommendation entered into force on 29 January and remains valid until further notice.
  • More information on the use of face masks can be found on THL’s website.

Recommendations and restrictions on public events and public gatherings

Regional State Administrative Agency:

  • DECISION APPLYING FROM 9 SEPTEMBER: The Regional State Administrative Agency of Western and Inner Finland has not continued the restrictions on assembly in its region after the previous restrictions expire. The Regional State Administrative Agency considers that it is not necessary to continue the restrictions on gatherings, as the available capacity of the region’s healthcare services are not currently at risk and the chains of infection are largely traceable. Vaccination coverage should continue to improve in order to avoid further repercussions of the epidemic and restrictive actions in the future. In the future, the general hygiene requirements of the Communicable Diseases Act must continue to be observed at public events.

Recommendations for organising leisure activities in a health secure way for children and young people

Recommendation on safe social distancing

  • Strive to keep a distance of 2 metres to other people. The recommendation applies to all contacts outside the family circle both in working life and in leisure time.
  • Gyms, in particular, are reminded to ensure that adequate safety distances are maintained.

Teleworking

  • The Ostrobothnia Corona Coordination Group’s telework recommendation is valid until 30 September 2021. Decision made 21.9.2021: Recommendation will not be continued after 30 September 2021.
  • Workplaces are also recommended to take breaks and maintain safe distancing, as well as the use of face masks. However, employers are responsible for arranging safe working conditions. Work arrangements reduce close contacts and other risk factors in the workplace.

Other recommendations

  • Stay at home with even mild respiratory symptoms and follow the instructions given by the hospital district.
  • We recommend that family members of the person being tested also avoid social contact as much as possible and take special care to wear a face mask and follow hygiene instructions while waiting for the test result.

Seasonal workers

  • It is recommended that seasonal workers from abroad remain in voluntary quarantine for 14 days after entering the country and before starting work.
  • In accordance with THL’s instructions, the employer is required to have a health and safety plan for their seasonal workers. The plan must clearly describe how health and safety measures are being implemented.
  • It is the employer’s responsibility to take care of and ensure that the arrangements regarding quarantine are followed. The employer must ensure that seasonal workers from abroad are transported directly and safely from the border to the place of quarantine. The responsibility for quarantine transport and costs incurred lie with the employee and the employer. The authorities do not arrange the transport of labour to or within Finland.
  • Employer instructions for health-secure entry, quarantine and for the preparation of a health security plan for seasonal workers in primary production (PDF)
  • More information on seasonal workers can be found on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Recommendations for educational institutions

  • See your municipality’s recommendations, restrictions and decisions regarding the activities of educational institutions in the municipal list.

Municipal-specific instructions

 See your municipality’s website for any municipality-specific restrictions and measures related to the coronavirus.

Travel recommendations

We continue to recommend that unnecessary travel outside the EU and the Schengen areas be avoided, with the exception of countries from which the government has lifted entry restrictions.

Guidelines for border traffic during pandemic (Finnish border guard)

The instructions and recommendations found on THL’s website apply to both Finnish citizens and citizens from other countries.

Vaasa Hospital Districts information for travelers arriving in Vaasa, Finland.

9/21/2021 redaktion_toimitus