Reg­u­la­tions and recommendations

on the base lev­el of the coro­n­avirus epi­dem­ic in Soite’s area

This text has been updat­ed on the 26th of Feb­ru­ary 2021

Cen­tral Ostro­both­nia moved on the 13th of Jan­u­ary 2021 to the base lev­el when it comes to the coro­n­avirus epi­dem­ic. How­ev­er, as the coro­n­avirus sit­u­a­tion is still severe in the coun­try as a whole, the rec­om­men­da­tions have not been light­ened sub­stan­tial­ly. The rec­om­men­da­tions are in effect until the 15th of March 2021.

Restric­tions by the Region­al State Admin­is­tra­tive Agen­cies on gatherings

• The number of persons taking part in public events and public gatherings is restricted to 20 persons. The restriction is in effect through the 1st of March 2021. Read more in the press release by the Regional State Administrative Agency (in Finnish
• The Regional State Administrative Agency strongly recommends avoiding all physical gatherings if one does not have to organize them.
• Link: Instructions on how to prevent coronavirus infections in connection with public events and public gatherings and when using public spaces (in Finnish)

Rec­om­men­da­tions from the COVID-19 region­al group of author­i­ties in Cen­tral Ostrobothnia

The cur­rent region­al COVID-19 rec­om­men­da­tions are on this page and this page is updat­ed when needed.

Restric­tions on gatherings

• It is recommended that private gatherings of over ten people are not arranged and face masks must be used even at smaller gatherings if social distances cannot be maintained. Special attention must be paid to the size of the space, so that social distances can be maintained.
• Those that arrange events are responsible for safety precautions and for the number of participants.
• It is recommended that people avoid close contacts outside of the family at their own discretion and the maximum number of people who may gather at one time is 10. It is, for example, good to avoid or reduce the number of meetings between families and to avoid or reduce participation in public events if possible.
• It is recommended that large groups of people and e.g. spending time at shopping centres is avoided in order to reduce social contacts.

Rec­om­men­da­tions regard­ing hobbies

•  It is recommended that all indoor hobbies in groups for persons who are over 20 years old are interrupted.  The recommendation also applies to group activities in competition sports and in teams and training groups if there are no particular reasons or obligations for it (e.g. competing and training on national team or Finnish national level)
• It is recommended that hobbies are moved outdoors or arranged remotely if possible.
• It is recommended that the teaching at workers’ institutes and adult education centres and basic education in the arts that takes place indoors is arranged remotely.
• Hobbies for children and youths may continue in groups of under 20 persons, but social distances must be maintained and hygiene practises followed. It is recommended that games, tournaments and performances are arranged without an audience (e.g. streaming). It is recommended that hobbies for children and youths are arranged outdoors.

Pub­lic spaces that the munic­i­pal­i­ties maintain

• Swimming halls, spas and public saunas can be open with special arrangements from the 18th of January 2021. Safe distances must be kept at the swimming halls and the hygiene must be taken care of. Approximately every fourth locker can be opened, so that safe distances can be kept and the number of persons that are in the saunas or in the showers at the same time must be limited.
• Arranging other sports than team sports can be made possible in sports halls if safety precautions are followed. 
• Youth spaces can be kept open with special arrangements.
• Newspaper reading rooms at libraries can be open, but safe distances must be kept and the hygiene recommendations followed. Library buses, visits by authors and book circles are put on hold.

A broad­er rec­om­men­da­tion on the use of face masks

A broad­er rec­om­men­da­tion on the use of face masks is in effect in Cen­tral Ostro­both­nia.

The use of face masks is rec­om­mend­ed for peo­ple over the age of 12:

• in public spaces such as shops and in other places outside the home
• in public transport and in the transport of persons who belong to an at-risk group
• at upper secondary institutes (vocational training and upper secondary school) and universities of applied sciences and universities in the region
• when going to a coronavirus test
• when returning to Finland from a risk country
• Face masks can also be used in other situations if it is impossible to maintain social distances.

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

Rec­om­men­da­tion on work­ing remotely

• Working remotely is recommended when possible. Working remotely is recommended especially for employees in the public and the private sector.
• It is also recommended that breaks are held in smaller groups at workplaces, that social distancing is practised and face masks used. The employer is, however, responsible for making sure the working environment is safe. Arrangements at the workplaces help the employees avoid close contact and other risk factors at the workplaces.

Rec­om­men­da­tions for edu­ca­tion­al institutions

• Upper secondary institutions continue with contact education for now, but safety instructions concerning the coronavirus are followed carefully and a strong recommendation on the use of face masks is in effect in upper secondary institutions.
• Check the recommendations, restrictions and decisions that apply in your home municipality when it comes to educational institutions.

Keep­ing the elder­ly and the at-risk groups safe, rec­om­men­da­tion on more effectiveness

• Special attention should still be paid to the elderly and the at-risk groups.
• Visits in units for services for older people must be strictly restricted to the room of the person who is cared for in the unit and common spaces must be avoided. Check the updated instructions for the unit before your visit.

Rec­om­men­da­tions on travelling

• It is recommended that all unnecessary travelling is avoided.

A rec­om­men­da­tion for sea­son­al work­ers arriv­ing from abroad

• It is recommended that seasonal workers who arrive from abroad are in voluntary quarantine for ten days after they have arrived in the country and before they start their work.
• If the employee has not been tested at the airport on arrival, it is recommended that the s/he is tested during the voluntary quarantine even if s/he has no symptoms.
• It is recommended that the employee is tested also if the s/he gets symptoms that fit the COVID-19-infection during the voluntary quarantine. Even if the virus test is negative, it is recommended that the employee continues with the voluntary quarantine for the entire recommended period (ten days).
• If a doctor of infectious diseases has placed a person in quarantine, a negative test result does not end the quarantine. Ending the quarantine requires an assessment by a doctor.

It is rec­om­mend­ed that per­sons who have a pri­ma­ry dis­ease are careful

• The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL recommends that all persons who have a primary disease avoid large numbers of people and cancel all activities that are not necessary for them.

Stop the coro­n­avirus from spreading

• If you have symptoms, stay at home and seek out coronavirus testing early and even if you only have mild symptoms
• Use a mask
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often
• Cough into your sleeve or into a handkerchief
• Keep a distance to other people - remember to keep a distance of 2 metres to other people!
• Install and use the Koronavilkku coronavirus app
• Get vaccinated when it's your turn

You and I are respon­si­ble for our health!