Here’s our evening round-up of the latest coronavirus news from Finland:
- Latest virus numbers and deaths
- Over-70s need more help with health & mental well being
- Education Minister sets out new back to school rules
- Dozens of staff and patients infected in Helsinki hospital
- Finnair & Finnavia expand face mask requirements for staff & passengers
- Alko sales jump 23% during April lockdown restrictions
Latest virus numbers and deaths
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare says there have now been 6,003 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Finland, an increase of 19 from the day before.
There have also now been 275 coronavirus-related deaths either in hospital, or in nursing homes or other locations - an increase of 4 from the previous day.
While there are patients receiving treatment in five hospital districts, the majority are in Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District with 130 out of 152 cases. There are 34 patients in intensive care, a number that has steadily fallen over recent weeks.
Over-70s need more help with health & mental well being
Older people in Finland, faced with continued restrictions on social contact, need more instructions on how to safeguard their physical and mental health in the coming months.
That’s the message from former minister and diplomat Ole Norrback, Chairman of the Swedish Pensioners’ Association SPF.
“The decision-makers have decided to protect the older people and we have reason to be thankful for that. On the other hand the isolation cannot last too long because people are not ready to be isolated for an endless period.”
While the government has announced a ‘hybrid timetable’ for easing other coronavirus-related restrictions around schooling, sports and hobby activities, restaurants and bars, the advice for anyone over 70 is to remain physically distant from other people.
“I’m afraid. The hardest part is psychological I think. I feel imprisoned to some extent. I don’t have my own freedom to do anything plus a certain amount of fear for the virus itself” says Ninni Langenskjöld, who lives in an old folk’s home in Espoo.
Advocacy groups say there must be more concrete advice given to older people on how to behave, and how to protect their physical and mental health during a prolonged period where they’re expected to maintain some level of isolation. Read more here.
Education Minister sets out new back to school rules
Education Minister Li Andersson (Left) says the government is preparing an amendment to the Basic Education Act which would make it easier to switch between distance education and normal classroom contact teaching in the autumn, if it was required by the coronavirus pandemic.
Schools and local municipalities will make their own decisions about how to follow the new instructions, but in general they include increased hand hygiene; keeping teaching groups as separate as possible; not holding any joined events between classes; looking at measures for distancing in teaching spaces; staggering school transport, meals and break times to try and maintain space between pupils.
Health officials say there have been only 300 confirmed cases of coronavirus in children under 16, but that the virus appears to infect children much less than flu and the role of children in spreading the virus is smaller than adults. Read more here.
Dozens of staff and patients infected at Helsinki hospital
Dozens of staff at one of the main Helsinki hospitals treating coronavirus patients have themselves tested positive for the virus.
Since mid-March 65 employees at the capital’s Laakso Hospital have been confirmed with Covid-19, with half of the infections detected in three specialist coronavirus wards.
All 800 staff at the hospital are being tested for the virus, even if they’re not showing any symptoms, So far 500 have been tested.
“We are taking this extremely seriously. We have informed the staff of the infections and instructed them to get tested as soon as possible” says Medical Director Laura Pikkarainen.
In addition to the staff, 14 patients in other wards at the hospital have also been infected with coronavirus. They have all been isolated, and everyone exposed to the virus has been quarantined. Read more here.
Finnair & Finnavia expand face mask requirements for staff & passengers
Finnish airports operator Finavia is changing the rules for using face masks at its properties, as the national airline Finnair says passengers and staff must now wear face masks on flights.
At airports, all employees who deal with customers will be required to wear face masks, and Finavia says it “strongly recommends” that passengers also wear masks.
Meanwhile on Finnair flights passengers and crew will be required to wear masks throughout the journeys, except for times when they’re eating or drinking. Finnair says it will have a limited amount of masks to give out to passengers, but that people should bring their own masks, and they might be refused entry to the aircraft if they don’t have one. Read more here.
Alko sales jump 23% during April lockdown restrictions
Finland’s state alcohol monopoly Alko sold 23% more booze in April this year compared to the year before.
The increase coincides with the most stringent lockdown measures during the coronavirus crisis when bars, cafes, restaurants and other licensed premises were closed. Those businesses will stay closed until 31st May.
Alko saw around 5% more shoppers visiting their physical stores in April, while 15,000 e-commerce online sales were made – an increase of 110% year-on-year. Those orders are available to collect at stores or pick-up points.
The biggest increase in sales during April was rosé wines which went up by 40%. Red wine sales increased 35% and white wine rose by 28%. Sparkling wine sales dipped by 2% year-on-year, perhaps as a results of public Vappu celebrations being canceled. Read more here.
