Read latest updates about coronavirus on THL's webpage.

Coronavirus – guidelines and recommendations

This bulletin includes the recommendations and guidelines issued by the Lapland Hospital District and the City of Rovaniemi. The page has been updated on 23.6.2022.

Travel & hobbies  

• THL recommends that all who travel abroad should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before travelling. More information on THL's website.

Use face masks at your own discretion

• A face mask will prevent droplets from spreading into the environment. When you use a face mask, you protect others from infection. 
  
  We recommend that you continue to use masks in indoor public spaces and on public transport if 
• -you seek treatment or a test because of suspected infection with coronavirus
• -you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, but you need to move outside your home
• -you know that you have been exposed to the coronavirus, for example, if someone in your family has been diagnosed with an infection but you are not able to avoid close contacts outside your home.
•  
• A mask also protects the person wearing it to some degree.  Even though vaccinations give excellent protection against a serious case of the disease, you can still get infected.
  
  Out of doors, the risk of infection is very low, unless you spend a long time in very crowded conditions. 
  
  The City of Rovaniemi provides free face masks to those with limited means. Students with limited means can obtain face masks from their educational institution.

Corona testing

You should get tested if you have symptoms of a coronavirus infection and:

• you work in the social and health care sector in nursing or care, or
• you live in an intensive care and nursing unit for the elderly or the disabled
  
• you are pregnant or have given birth within six weeks (In this case we recommend a home test or an official laboratory test. If you get a positive result, call p. 016-3224120 Mon-Fri at 8am-12am for further information). 
• health personnel recommends to get tested.

Also, a child less than 16-year-old can get tested if the parent wishes to apply for infectious disease allowance from Kela. 

Where to get tested 

When you want to book a test appointment, follow these instructions:

• You can get tested at Lappica or private medical center Mehiläinen. If you belong to the groups mentioned above, testing is free. Otherwise you need to pay it yourself. 
• The Lappica testing points are located at Lapinkävijäntie 2, next to the bus station. Citizens older than 6 years can book an appointment at Lappica by phone (tel. 020-692 190 Mon-Fri 7.30-13, Sun 9.30am–10.30am). The testing point is open Mon-Thurs at 1pm–3.30pm, Fri 11.30am–2pm, Sun 10am–12. 
• The Mehiläinen drive-in testing point is available at Lampelankatu 6. The testing point is open Mon 7.10-14.50 and Tues-Fri 7.30am-2pm. You need to make an appointment at Mehiläinen website. When you see the question "Are you booking an appointment for a respiratory Tract infection patient?", click "yes". Then click "Respiratory tract infection clinic". Choose person or service: "laboratory", then and clinic or region: "Rovaniemi". Now you can make a booking. 
  
  You can also get tested in the following places at your own cost: 
  
• The Terveystalo testing point is located in the Revontuli shopping centre (Koskikatu 27). The testing point is open with or without appointment Mon-Fri at 8-10pm.
• The testing point at Lordinaukio serves without an appointment daily from Monday to Sunday from 8am to 5 pm.  
  Before taking a 9Lives corona test, you must register in advance at korona.9lives.fi/en
  When it comes time to pay, by selecting “payment on the spot”, you can skip the payment transaction and the test is thus free. After registration, you can take the test without an appointment. The test result will be sent as a text message within 30-60 minutes after taking the test.
  Note! If you need a test certificate to travel or are unvaccinated and want to test yourself to get a Covid-19 passport, the test is no longer free of charge but comes with a price! The price of the antigen test with the certificate is 99 euros and the price of the PCR test with the certificate is 155 euros. It takes about 48 hours to receive a PCR test result.
  

  Corona testing when returning to one's home country

• When traveller’s own country or airline require a negative corona test for return, the covid test in Rovaniemi can be done at a private medical centre at the customer’s own expense. More information about coronavirus testing for departure from Rovaniemi, Finland: https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/covid-19-guidelines/  
  

Coronavirus vaccination 

At the moment Rovaniemi gives first, second, third, fourth and fifth doses of coronavirus vaccination.

A first dose is given to everyone who is 5 years old or older. You can get your second vaccination when at least 6 weeks has elapsed since the first dose. Third doses are given for persons ages 12 or over. THL recommends a third vaccine dose for all persons aged 18 or over and for persons that belong to risk groups 1 or 2 and are aged 12 or over. Those who are 18 years or older can get their third vaccination when at least 3 months has elapsed since receiving the second dose of the vaccine. 12–17-year-olds can get their third dose after six months, and persons aged 12 or over with a severely weakened immune defence after two months. A fourth dose of coronavirus vaccine is given for persons aged 12 or over with a severely weakened immune defence, 70–79-year-olds that belong to riskgroups, those who are 80 years or older and some other elrerly when 3–4 months has elapsed since the third dose. Fifth doses are given to highly immunocompromised individuals. 

Who can get a vaccination?

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has decided that under certain conditions, a person who does not have a municipality of residence in Finland may receive the coronavirus vaccination. THL's vaccination order is also followed for these groups. The corona vaccine is free for everyone.

Coronavirus vaccinations are given in Rovaniemi to the following groups

• Persons residing in Rovaniemi who do not have a municipality of residence or other right to receive preventive health care in Finland. However, vaccinations are not given to tourists or other people who visit Finland for a short period of time.
• Persons who are temporarily staying in Finland who have a health insurance card issued by an EU or EEA country or Switzerland. 
• Persons who have a certificate issued by Kela on the right to treatment benefits in Finland or a European Health Insurance Card with a green background issued by Kela.
  

Where to get vaccinated

The vaccination appointment can be reserved online at rovaniemi.terveytesi.fi or by phone: tel. 016 322 4913. Phone service is open from Monday to Friday at 9 am – 2 pm. 

More information

• Information on coronavirus in different languages
• Current restrictions in Finland

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