Recommendations for the Christmas period
- The recommendation is that parties are held remotely, that recommendations on masks are followed and that necessary precautions are taken.
- The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL recommends that Christmas is celebrated in small groups and preferably at home with the closest persons (in Finnish).
- If one wishes to gather, it is recommended that the group consists of under ten persons and that people possibly participate remotely.
- It is recommended that the recommendation by The Finnish institute for health and welfare THL on parties during Christmas time is followed. According to the recommendation, we should not completely bypass social interaction, but should instead come up with safe alternatives to arrange parties.
- Christmas meals can also be arranged in new ways. The Tax Administration has published its own bulletin about this for employers.
It is for example recommended that relatives are visited only if necessary. If one plans to visit other than the closest persons during the Christmas period, and especially if one visits elderly persons or persons who otherwise belong to an at-risk group, the safety of the meeting can be improved in many ways.
If you visit a close person who lives in a nursing home or a unit for supported housing and belongs to an at-risk group, it is important to follow the instructions the personnel gives carefully.
One can reduce the risk of getting infected oneself by avoiding social contacts before the holidays.
It is of utmost importance to remember the same principles during the holidays as otherwise during the coronavirus epidemic. The most important thing is to practice good hand and coughing hygiene and to try to maintain social distancing. One can also use face masks.
Testing during the Christmas period
It is also important to seek out testing even during the holidays if one has even mild symptoms that fit the coronavirus and otherwise to stay at home if one has symptoms.
It is possible to come for a coronavirus test even during Christmas. The coronavirus helpline 06 828 7499 is open on weekday holidays during weekend opening hours, i.e. is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (24 - 27.12, 31.12, 1.1.2021 and 6.1.2021). It is important to seek out coronavirus testing without delay even if one only has mild symptoms!
