Reg­u­la­tions and recommendations

Soite’s area has been defined as an area with com­mu­ni­ty transmission

This page has been updat­ed on the 15th of Novem­ber 2021

Cen­tral Ostro­both­nia is from 8th of Octo­ber 2021 in the com­mu­ni­ty trans­mis­sion phase when it comes to the epidemi­o­log­i­cal sit­u­a­tion of the coronavirus.

The restric­tions on restau­rants that are in effect in the com­mu­ni­ty trans­mis­sion phase are in effect in Soite’s area.

When pub­lic events are orga­nized, the instruc­tions from the Min­istry of Edu­ca­tion and Cul­ture and the Finnish Insti­tute for Health and Wel­fare THL are followed:

• Link: Guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus infections during public events and gatherings and during the use of public spaces (in Finnish)
• Link: letter by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 19th of August 2021 (available in Finnish and Swedish)
• 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.

Restric­tions in the Area by the Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agency

In accor­dance with sub-sec­tion 1 of sec­tion 58 in the Com­mu­ni­ca­ble Dis­eases Act, the Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agency for West­ern and Inland Fin­land for­bids all such pub­lic events that are held indoors in the munic­i­pal­i­ties in the Cen­tral Ostro­both­nia Hos­pi­tal Dis­trict (with the excep­tion of Reisjärvi) that have over 100 (one hun­dred) par­tic­i­pants and:

1. where such audience spaces are used where not all participants have been allotted a seat of their own or
2. that are sing-along events that are considered public events.

The deci­sion is in effect for three weeks from the 15th of Novem­ber 2021 to the 5th of Decem­ber 2021. More infor­ma­tion on the web­site of the Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agency (in Finnish and Swedish).

An oper­a­tor may begin using the COVID-19 pass­port as an alter­na­tive to those coro­n­avirus restric­tions that are in effect. In such a case, the pass­port enables entry to events.

More infor­ma­tion and answers to fre­quent­ly asked ques­tions about the coro­n­avirus can be found on the web­site of the Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agency.

Rec­om­men­da­tions by the region­al COVID-19 author­i­ty task group

Cur­rent region­al coro­n­avirus rec­om­men­da­tions are found on this page and will be updat­ed as needed. 

Event orga­niz­ers are respon­si­ble for the safe­ty mea­sures at the events and for the num­ber of participants.

Rec­om­men­da­tions regard­ing pri­vate gath­er­ings and hobbies

• The regional COVID-19 group of authorities strongly emphasizes the importance of observing safety distances and hygiene guidelines at all gatherings and hobbies.
• Gatherings should be kept as small as possible and, if possible, people should gather in smaller groups at a time. A guest book, for example, can be used to note the times when guests arrive and leave. This helps in a possible exposure situation when persons who have been exposed must be traced.
• In hobbies and when private gatherings are organized, special attention must be paid to the general coronavirus instructions and hygiene guidelines. Keeping safe distances is still recommended. Safety instructions must be followed when gatherings are organized: Link: Instructions to event organizers in Soite’s area
• A recommendation on the use of face masks is in effect in the area and this recommendation also applies to private gatherings and hobbies
• One should attend gatherings and hobbies only if absolutely healthy
• Particular caution is recommended for those who belong to a risk group due to age or an underlying disease as well as for persons who have not been vaccinated.
  
  
• It is recommended that following instructions are followed in hobbies:
  • Link: Reducing the coronavirus risk in sport, physical exercise, and other recreational activities (The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL)
  • Link: Instructions on preventing coronavirus infections in camps for children and young people (The Ministry of Education and Culture and THL) (in Finnish)

A rec­om­men­da­tion on the use of face masks

An exten­sive rec­om­men­da­tion on the use of face masks is in effect in Soite’s area. Use of a face mask is rec­om­mend­ed for all per­sons old­er than 12, even those who have been vaccinated:

• in public places such as shops and in other places outside the home
• at the lower secondary schools in the area (grades 7-9)
• at upper secondary institutes (vocational training and upper secondary schools) as well as higher education institutions and universities in the area
• in public transport, in school transport and in the transport of persons who belong to an at-risk group
• when going to a social or health care unit
• when going to a coronavirus test
• when returning to Finland from a risk country
• use of face masks is recommended in other situations as well, both inside and outside, if it is impossible to maintain safe distances.

Links:
A rec­om­men­da­tion on the use of face masks in the region
Instruc­tions on the cor­rect use of face masks

Coro­n­avirus safe­ty in the workplace

• A recommendation on working from home is in effect until 31st of December 2021. It is recommended that employers utilise a so called hybrid model where some of the work is, if possible, done remotely in turns, so that only a part of the personnel present at the workplace at the same time.
• The employer is responsible for coronavirus safety in the workplace.
• Use of face mask is required when working in social and health care.
• Workplaces are advised to spread out breaks and to maintain safe distances.

Pro­tect­ing the elder­ly and risk groups, rec­om­men­da­tion on more carefulness

• The elderly and risk groups should still be given particular consideration.
• During visits to hospital wards and residential units, the special guidelines by THL (in Finnish) should be followed. Check the updated instructions regarding the unit before your visit.

Rec­om­men­da­tions con­cern­ing travelling

• Special caution should be taken when travelling to EU and Schengen areas, and trips outside these areas should be avoided. Please follow the instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Finland and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL.

Instruc­tions for peo­ple arriv­ing from abroad

• Current border safety guidelines must be followed
• The FINENTRY service is used in Soite's area with regards to coronavirus testing for travellers
• Check the most recent instructions regarding travelling:
  • The Ministry for Foreign Affairs: travelling
  • The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL: Travel and the coronavirus epidemic
  • The Ministry of the Interior: travelling
  • Announcements by the Regional State Administrative Agency (in Finnish)

Stop the spread of the coronavirus:

• If a doctor of infectious disease has put a person in quarantine, a negative test result does not end the quarantine. The decision to end a quarantine can only be made by a doctor.

• If you have symptoms, stay at home and seek out coronavirus testing early and even if you have only very mild symptoms
• Use a face mask
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently
• Cough into your sleeve or into a tissue
• Install and use the Koronavilkku coronavirus app
• Take the coronavirus vaccine when it’s your turn

You and I are respon­si­ble for our health!