Coronavirus

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus epidemic a pandemic. On 16 March 2020, the Finnish Government, together with the President of the Republic, declared a state of emergency in Finland due to the coronavirus situation. The state of emergency causes changes also in health care services in order to focus treatment on cases that require urgent treatment. 

Read latest updates about coronavirus on THL's webpage.

If you think that you may have been infected with the coronavirus, follow these steps

Call the health centre to make an appointment only in an urgent case

Mon - Thu: 8:00 - 16:00
Fri: 8:00 - 15:00

 +358 (0)16 322 4600 / Urheilukatu Health Centre 
 +358 (0)16 322 4610 / Pulkamontie Health Centre
 +358 (0)16 322 4620 / Rinteenkulma Health Centre

Follow the instructions given to you on the phone. If you think you have been infected with the coronavirus, select corona.

At other times:
+358 (0)16 322 4800 / Emergency care at Lapland Central Hospital

Do not go to the health centre, call first

• Do not go to the health centre, call first.
• The health centre operates a call-back system if they are too busy to answer your call.
• Listen to the instructions and follow them.

Only contact emergency care in matters that require urgent attention

• For the time being, health centres will not make appointments for non-urgent matters.
• If they need to cancel appointments already made, they will inform you.
• It is important for everyone to ensure that people in need of urgent care can be treated in emergency care.
• We must not burden emergency care with other matters.
  

If you have a mild respiratory infection, get well at home

• Avoid contact with other people.
• This is to prevent the spread of the disease.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a paper tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put the used paper tissue in the rubbish bin immediately.
• If you don't have a paper tissue, cough or sneeze in your upper sleeve, not in your hands.

Employers

• Agree with your employees on a self-reporting system in cases of acute respiratory infections.
• In the future, health centres will not issue certificates of absence due to a cold, unless the patient needs to see a doctor otherwise.
• The same applies to children’s illnesses.
• We need the resources for other work due to the exceptional situation.
  

Information on the coronavirus:

 National helpline of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) tel. +358 (0)295 535 535 
 Weekdays 8:00 - 21:00
 Saturdays 9:00 - 15:00

 The helpline does not provide health advice or emergency advice for acute symptoms.

WHO’s standard recommendations for the general public to reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses are as follows, which include hand and respiratory hygiene, and safe food practices:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider;
• When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals;
• The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.

Wash your hands

• after coughing or sneezing
• when caring for the sick
• before, during and after you prepare food
• before eating
• after toilet use
• when hands are visibly dirty
• after handling animals or animal waste

Wash your hands with soap and running water when your hands are visibly dirty. If your hands are not visibly dirty, fequently clean them by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

Protect others from getting sick

• when coughing and sneezing cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue
• throw tissue into closed bin immediately after use
• clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water after coughing or sneezing and when caring for the sick
• avoid close contact when you are experiencing cough and fever
• avoid spitting in public