Instructions on the correct use of face masks
Soite recommends that persons over the age of 15 use either a disposable, so-called surgical face mask or a cloth mask when it is impossible to keep a safe distance of 1-2 meters: e.g. in public transport.
The national recommendation is that citizens buy their own facial masks. Free masks are intended for low-income citizens that cannot afford masks. The distribution of masks is confidence-based, no-one has to prove that they belong to a low-income household or that they need free masks when visiting the distribution point. Facial masks will be handed out only for personal needs and use.
Putting on a face mask:
- Wash or disinfect your hands before touching the face mask.
- Take hold of the mask’s ties and draw them behind your ears on both sides of your face. The creases on the outside of the mask should point down. Do not touch the protective part of the mask!
- Press the mask onto your nose. In other words, shape the harder section at the upper edge of the mask so that the mask sits as tightly as possible against the forms of your nose.
- Pull the lower edge of the mask under your chin. Do not touch the mask after this! A face mask can be worn for 1-2 hours or until it gets damp.
Taking off and washing / disposing of a face mask:
- Wash or disinfect your hands before touching the face mask.
- Take the mask off with clean hands by grabbing hold of the ties. Do not touch the protective part of the mask!
- If the mask is disposable put it in a plastic bag and then into a waste container. If you have used a reusable cloth mask, put it directly into the washing machine. A cloth mask should be washed in 90 degrees.
- Wash or disinfect your hands after you have taken off the mask.
Soites instructions in pdf format on how to use face mask
When should I use a mask?
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare recommends using protective masks to protect other people within those hospital districts where cases of coronavirus infections have occurred during the last two weeks.
The use of face masks is recommended for people over the age of 15:
- in public transport
- when going to coronavirus tests
- when returning to Finland from a risk country.
- face masks can also be used in other situations, if it is impossible to maintain safe social distances.
A face mask is one method for preventing the spread of coronavirus infections. It is still, however, of utmost important to maintain a safety distance of 1–2 meters anytime this is possible, to wash one's hands, to cough into one's elbow or into a disposable handkerchief and to avoid touching one's face.
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s instructions for facial masks:
How to use facial masks correctly, video (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)
Recommendation for the use of facial masks for citizens (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)
