Instruc­tions to event orga­niz­ers in Soite’s area

This text has been updat­ed on the 1st of Novem­ber 2021

The Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agency of West­ern and Inland Fin­land (AVI) makes the deci­sions on restric­tions of gath­er­ings in Soite’s area. The restric­tions are updat­ed on Soite’s page for region­al reg­u­la­tions and rec­om­men­da­tions. More infor­ma­tion can be found on the web­site of The Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agency.

When events are orga­nized, the restric­tions by the Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agency on the 23rd of August 2021 (avail­able in Finnish and Swedish) and the instruc­tions in the let­ter by the Min­istry of Social Affairs and Health on the 19th of August 2021 (avail­able in Finnish and Swedish) should be observed.

For exam­ple events where admis­sion tick­ets are sold to the pub­lic should observe the guide­lines issued by the Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agency and the Min­istry of Social Affairs and Health.

The COVID-19 pass­port serves as an alter­na­tive health secu­ri­ty mea­sure when the event or facil­i­ties in ques­tion are sub­ject to restric­tions. The COVID-19 pass­port is intend­ed by law for cir­cum­stances in which pub­lic author­i­ties have imposed restric­tions to pre­vent the spread of the epi­dem­ic. Exam­ples of such restric­tions include lim­its on open­ing hours, or on the num­ber of par­tic­i­pants at an event. The COVID-19 pass­port can­not be used if premis­es are com­plete­ly closed, or if an event has been entire­ly pro­hib­it­ed due to seri­ous COVID-19 con­cerns. For more infor­ma­tion, please read the web­site of the Min­istry of Social Affairs and Health: https://stm.fi/en/the-covid-19-passport

It is pos­si­ble to use the COVID-19 pass­port at pri­vate events, e.g. pre-Christ­mas par­ties, to ensure that the event is coro­n­avirus safe.

An event orga­niz­er has the respon­si­bil­i­ty to take the pre­ven­tion of coro­n­avirus infec­tions into account

• You will find information on restrictions and recommendations in different phases of the epidemic on the website of the Finnish Government.
• Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus are updated on the website of the Regional State Administrative Agency 
• Information on the epidemiological situation and restrictions in different areas can be found in Tapahtumateollisuus ry’s “tilannehuone”. 
• Information on the pandemic and restrictions in Soite’s area are updated in the situational picture: https://korona.soite.fi/en/the-coronavirus-situation/

Event orga­niz­ers must ensure hygiene prac­tices in accor­dance with § 58 c in the Com­mu­ni­ca­ble Dis­eases Act (in Finnish) in order to pre­vent the spread of the coro­n­avirus. Event orga­niz­ers must:

• make sure the participants have the possibility to wash their hands
• avoid crowding and queues, e.g. at selling and serving points
• there must be plenty of space at arrival and when leaving, sufficient toilet spaces
• make sure surfaces that are touched are cleaned
• use of masks is recommended both indoors and outdoors if it is impossible to keep safe distances
• the size of the space must be sufficient in relation to the number of participants, it must be possible to maintain safe distances
• indoors, each person must have their own seat, and outdoors, it must be possible to keep safe distances
• participants must be informed about coronavirus safety: one should only participate if one is healthy

At pub­lic events with over 50 peo­ple, the orga­niz­er must have a writ­ten plan for the pre­ven­tion of coro­n­avirus infec­tions. It is rec­om­mend­ed, that the plan is also sub­mit­ted to Soite’s team of infec­tious dis­eases by e‑mail: infektioidentorjunta@soite.fi. A writ­ten plan does not need to be drawn up for pri­vate events such as wed­dings, exam­i­na­tion par­ties and funer­als, but coro­n­avirus safe­ty instruc­tions must be observed.

Orga­niz­ers of pub­lic events with over 500 par­tic­i­pants must sub­mit their plan two weeks in advance to Soite’s team of infec­tious dis­eases (infektioidentorjunta@soite.fi). If need­ed, the plan is reviewed togeth­er with the event organizer.

Please acquaint your­self with the fol­low­ing instruc­tions, when draw­ing up your plan:

The instruc­tions for event orga­niz­ers by the Min­istry of Edu­ca­tion and Cul­ture and the Insti­tute for Health and Wel­fare THL that has been updat­ed on 31st of May 2021 (in Finnish). 

The Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agency’s instruc­tions for event orga­niz­ers: https://avi.fi/en/frequently-asked-questions

The con­tent of the plan can be based on these instructions.

Please also acquaint your­self with the fol­low­ing pages and instructions:

The page of the Min­istry of Edu­ca­tion and Culture’s project “Tur­val­liset tapah­tu­mat työryh­mä” (work­ing group for safe events)

The instruc­tions by the Finnish Insti­tute of Occu­pa­tion­al Health for the ser­vice sec­tor (in Finnish)

The instruc­tions by the Finnish Insti­tute of Occu­pa­tion­al Health on clean­ing (in Finnish) 

Instruc­tions on the use of pro­tec­tive gloves

Instruc­tions on the use of face masks 

An event orga­niz­er has an oblig­a­tion to act if a coro­n­avirus infec­tion is confirmed

• An event organizer is obligated to help with the tracing of a coronavirus infection if health authorities confirm a person with a coronavirus infection has been at the event.
  
  
• If a coronavirus infection is confirmed in connection to an event, the organizer must, if possible and in accordance with other laws, have information on the participants, so that participants who may have been exposed to the coronavirus can be traced.
  
  
• If a coronavirus infection is confirmed at an event, the possibility of exposures is investigated. Those who have been exposed must be traced and put into a 10 day long quarantine in accordance with the Communicable Diseases Act. The doctor who is responsible for communicable diseases in the municipality or hospital district has the responsibility for investigating the chains of infection.
  
  
• Restricting the number of participants and preventing different groups from mixing helps to minimize the number of persons who are exposed if a coronavirus infection should be confirmed in one of the participants.