The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has proposed implementing a Covid-19 vaccine mandate for employees in the social and healthcare sector.
The mandate would only apply to those who work closely with patients in high-risk groups. As per the proposal, employees can refuse to take the vaccine if there are valid medical reasons. In such a case, they will need to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test result.
The onus of ensuring that healthcare workers do not pose a threat to high-risk patients would fall on the employer.
Covid passes at events and establishments across southern Finland are being checked inconsistently, according to the Regional State Administrative Agency (Avi).
The agency said it receives complaints and notifications, mostly from restaurant customers, that venues, eateries and bars are checking Covid passes very differently, with the documents being checked too closely or inadequately.
Read more here.
Finland recorded 1,296 new lab-confirmed coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours on Wednesday, according to the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Since the start of the epidemic in early 2020, Finland has recorded 197,476 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
As of Wednesday there were 309 patients receiving hospital treatment for coronavirus-related issues, 60 of whom were in intensive care. Wednesday's overall hospital figure represents an increase of 32 since the previous day.
THL also reported 11 additional coronavirus-related fatalities on Wednesday, bringing the country's overall Covid death toll to 1,395.
Authorities in Pirkanmaa have announced that passengers aged 12 and over must wear a mask while travelling on public transport in the region, unless there is a medical reason for not doing so. The mandate is effective from Thursday 9 December.
A mask mandate came into effect on buses int the city of Tampere from 3 December as infection rates hit record highs this week.
Yle News' newspaper review on Wednesday found Tampere-based Aamulehti asking when remote learning and quarantine measures will return to the city's schools as Covid infections are increasingly being detected in children under the age of 12.
The coronavirus situation in the region of Pirkanmaa, where Tampere is located, is currently at its worst level since the pandemic began, with daily case numbers hitting an all-time record high for the region on Tuesday.
Read more about this story and others in Wednesday's paper review here.
The Covid-19 incidence rate in the region of Pirkanmaa is now the third highest in Finland, according to Janne Laine, an infectious diseases specialist at Tampere University Hospital (TAYS).
Laine made the statement during a briefing by the Pirkanmaa coronavirus coordination group on Tuesday afternoon.
Two new coronavirus infections caused by the variant omicron have been diagnosed in Finland, the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) announced on Tuesday.
To date, the new cases bring Finland's number of omicron-caused infections to nine.
The cases were reported in the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district, with both of the infected individuals having recently returned from South Africa and Nigeria.
The omicron cases announced on Tuesday were not related to an infection chain reported last week that caused seven cases, according to THL.
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Preliminary statistics indicate that the number of Christmas holiday tourists arriving in Lapland and the Kuusamo region this year is likely to hit pre-Covid levels.
Sian Porter arrived from London with her family to spend Christmas in Kuusamo. Being fully vaccinated, travel now is not a matter of concern.
"We are not afraid of the coronavirus. We are trying to get back to normal, but we are trying to do so safely. You never know," says Porter.
Public health authority THL has registered 1,542 new lab-confirmed coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing Finland's total number of case since the beginning of the pandemic to 196,180.
There was also one further death linked to the virus reported in Finland over the 24 hours, THL added, meaning Finland's overall toll now stands at 1,384.
A majority of Members of Finland's Parliament are in favour of allowing employers to request that employees show Covid passes at the workplace, according to the results of an Yle survey of legislators.
The main opposition parties, the National Coalition Party (NCP) and the Finns Party, are at polar opposite ends on the issue, with NCP MPs saying that the right of employers to ask for a Covid pass would be a good way to keep businesses operating and employees healthy, but with most Finns Party MPs strongly opposed the possible introduction of the measure.
Public health authority THL has registered 3,412 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases since Friday, bringing Finland's total number of infections from the pandemic to 194,638.
There were also 23 further deaths related to the virus over the weekend. Finland's overall toll now stands at 1,383.
Finland celebrates Independence Day on Monday 6 December, but Covid restrictions will impact festivities for a second consecutive year.
Finland is seeing suspected cases of unvaccinated nurses passing coronavirus to patients, which is why lawmakers will soon consider a government bill making Covid jabs mandatory for healthcare workers.
Studies suggest between five and ten percent of social and health workers in Finland are unvaccinated.
Read more.
An initiative opposing Covid passports has surpassed the 50,000 signatures required for Finnish lawmakers to consider the proposal.
Authors of the initiative argue that the practice of excluding people based on vaccination status contradicts both the Finnish constitution as well as the UN's human rights declaration.
More here.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (Green) has tested positive for Covid, the government said late on Saturday.
Haavisto, who is asymptomatic, is working remotely.
More on this story here.
Centre Party MP Jouni Ovaska on Saturday tweeted he had tested positive for coronavirus.
Ovaska, who said he was fully vaccinated, said his symptoms were mild. He was in Parliament on Thursday for a plenary session and joined parliamentary committee meetings earlier in the week.
Parliament's Administrative Director, Pertti Rauhio, said fewer than ten people have been exposed so far.
Officials on Saturday confirmed seven cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant in Finland.
The cases are all part of the same infection cluster, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Health officials diagnosed one case in Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), four in the southwest Finland hospital district and two in North Savo.
The infections are connected to a group recently returned from Sweden.
Two travellers who had recently returned to Finland from Sweden have tested positive for the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus. At least one of the confirmed cases had received two doses of the vaccine.
The travellers were part of a group of five people who came to the country by plane. The other three have been tested for the virus, with results expected early next week. Read the full story here.
The Regional Administrative Agency in Uusimaa has announced new restrictions on gatherings. Numbers are to be restricted, unless organisers demand attendees show a Covid pass. Read more here.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has cleared up an apparent misunderstanding that had led to a senior official in the Helsinki region stating that Covid testing in 2022 might go unfunded. There's no danger of that, according to the ministry. Read more in today's paper review.
Among other topics this week, the All Points North podcast finds out what life is really like for healthcare workers and patients on a Finnish coronavirus ward.
Read more about this week's show here.
You can listen to the full podcast using the embedded player here, via Yle Areena, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on your usual podcast player using the RSS feed.
Blog continues after audio
The government is trying to slow the spread of the virus without fully banning public gatherings, but has an emergency brake if all else fails.
Tighter restrictions will see a broader adoption of the Covid passport, for example, to group exercise and other recreational facilities. The projected requirement for use of the Covid passport follows the same logic as it does now in restaurants . It is not possible to extend requirements for the use of the Covid passport to essential and statutory services such as grocery stores, pharmacies, healthcare or libraries.
The impact of the restrictions will be monitored for two weeks, after which health authorities will assess whether to introduce a state of emergency law under exceptional circumstances.
Finland has reported yet another record high number of new cases on Thursday, 1,622. This is according to figures published by The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
The health agency also recorded 8 more deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,356 since the beginning of the pandemic.
Finland has reached 82 percent vaccination coverage among those over 12 years of age, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
The incidence rate among children under 12 has increased to 28 percent, THL added. Some 15 percent of all coronavirus infections confirmed in Finland throughout the pandemic have been reported in children under 12 years of age.
THL estimates that the mortality rate of the some 1,200 patients treated in critical care since the beginning of the pandemic currently stands at 18 percent.
Read the full summary of THL's weekly Covid briefing here.
Today's paper review has news of plans to introduce the Covid pass in workplaces, and a shortfall in funding for Covid testing in 2022. Read more here.
According to the hospital district of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), a person who received three doses of the vaccine has been hospitalised for the Covid-19 virus for the first time. Asko Järvinen, Head of Infectious Diseases at HUS said that the case was "expected."
"Very few vaccines provide 100 percent protection when the risk of infection is severe," he said. Järvinen also emphasised that the booster shot significantly reduces the chances of severe illness and hospitalisation.
Daycare centres in Vantaa have been struggling to cope with a shortage of staff for the past few weeks, after employees have fallen ill with the seasonal flu or Covid-19, leading to a high absence rate. Full story here.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) will continue to focus on providing the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to those in risk groups, instead of expanding eligibility to the rest of the population, according to Mia Kontio, a top vaccine specialist at THL.
Currently the third dose, also known as a booster shot, is only recommended for people above the age of 60 and those in medical risk groups, who make up roughly 2.5 million people in Finland. Details here.
Disruptive behaviour at restaurants and nightclubs has decreased significantly since the introduction of the Covid pass, say venue owners in Helsinki.
However, a direct link between the introduction of the Covid pass and the reduction in disruptive behaviour cannot be drawn until more data has been collected, notes the CEO of NoHo Partners. Full story here.
More than four million people in Finland, aged 12 years and older, have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest figures released on Wednesday by public health authority THL.
This means that a total 4,002,500 people, or 81.8 percent of the population aged 12 and over, have received both doses.
Meanwhile more than 273,000 people, or 5.6 percent of the 12 and over population, have received three doses.
No evidence of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been found in two suspected cases of the highly-mutated variant, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said on Wednesday.
The samples from both suspected cases - detected in Finland last week - were genetically sequenced, in order to determine their genetic makeup. One was found to be the Delta variant while the other will be sent for re-testing as the viral value within the sample was too low to provide an accurate determination.
News agency STT also reported that three further suspected cases are now being investigated.
You can read more details here.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) announced a record high daily total of new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, with 1,570 diagnoses.
The previous high was last Friday, when 1,406 cases were counted. Over the past weekend, THL registered 3,338 new lab-confirmed infections.
A total of 188,108 corona infections have been reported in the 22 months since late January 2020.
The THL also announced 13 more fatalities on Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 1,348.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) has tested negative for the coronavirus, her office said on Wednesday.
A day earlier, it said that Marin was suffering from cold symptoms. As a result she took part in government negotiations on Tuesday evening remotely.
For the time being, Marin will continue to work remotely from her official residence, Kesäranta, in Helsinki's Meilahti district.
The Finnish Defence Forces have cancelled a planned Independence Day parade in the city of Lahti on 6 December, citing the worsening coronavirus situation.
Last year's parade, which was scheduled to take place in Pori, was also cancelled because of the pandemic.
Read more on this story here.
Helsingin Sanomat reports on Wednesday morning that Finland is putting the final preparations to plans to roll out Covid vaccines to children aged between 5 and 11, and that the process may begin as early as Christmas week.
The National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (Krar) is expected to discuss the issue of vaccinations for children aged 5-11 on Wednesday, but it may still be a few days before a final decision is made by other authorities.
Read more on this story, and the rest of our Wednesday morning paper review, here.
Members of Prime Minister Sanna Marin's (SDP) government gathered at the House of Estates in Helsinki on Tuesday afternoon to discuss strategies to improve the country's worsening coronavirus situation, but Marin attended the meeting remotely due to cold symptoms.
The Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, Krista Kiuru (SDP), said that the government negotiations were carried out in good spirits, and that solutions would be reached.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) will not attend Tuesday's meeting of government ministers at the House of the Estates in Helsinki in person, but will instead join remotely.
A statement from the Prime Minister's office said Marin is suffering from mild cold symptoms and will undergo a Covid test.
The worsening coronavirus situation in Finland - further complicated by the suspected arrival of the Omicron variant - will not lead to the postponement of the county council election, scheduled for 23 January 2022.
That's the view of Arto Jääskeläinen, Director of Electoral Administration at the Ministry of Justice, who said that a repeat of the situation last spring - when the municipal elections were moved from April to June as Covid cases escalated - is not being considered.
Finland recorded 916 new coronavirus cases over the past day on Tuesday, according to the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
The majority of Tuesday's cases (508) were diagnosed in the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district, with 205 of those confirmed in the City of Helsinki.
The spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Finland is "inevitable," according to Mika Salminen, the Director of Health Security at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, but he added that there is no need for people in Finland to panic.
The Finnish government will meet on Tuesday to discuss new measures to tackle the country's worsening Covid-19 situation and how to prevent the spread of the new Omicron variant.
The topics of discussion will include an assessment of the current epidemiological situation in the country, vaccination progress and controlling border traffic in light of the new variant.
Government sources have revealed that while no decisions have been made yet, officials are considering shutting down Finland's borders or reinforcing internal border controls within the Schengen area.
The government could also make vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers.
Finland has reportedly been distributing the third jab of the Covid-19 vaccine much slower than other countries in the EU.
Around 37 percent of those aged 12 and above have received the third dose in Iceland, while the equivalent figure in Hungary is 25 percent and Malta 21 percent.
In contrast, as of Monday, only 5 percent received the third jab in Finland. Medical experts have recommended that Finland step up its vaccination pace to prevent waning immunity against the virus.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs said, at least at the moment, it is not planning to arrange repatriation flights for Finnish nationals who are in southern Africa, a region which has become a risk area for the new coronavirus variant known as Omicron, consular services director general Pasi Tuominen told news group Lännen Media.
"There has been no discussion about evacuation flights, but we assume that the interruptions to air traffic are temporary," Tuominen said, referring to the recent epidemic-related shutdowns of travel corridors from southern African countries.
"We are working to help people [in the region] who have indicated a desire to return. However, as flights have been cancelled, our means are limited," he said.
Most of the people in the region are on trips arranged by travel agencies. According to Tuominen, the tour operators are assisting those individuals.
Around 150 Finnish nationals file declarations of plans to travel to southern African countries, according to Tuominen, who added there were likely some Finns in other countries that were put on the variant's risk list, including the countries of Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) announced on Monday that two suspected cases of the coronavirus variant Omicron were being examined in Finland, adding that both of the cases involved individuals who had arrived in the country from abroad.
Public health authority THL has registered 3,338 new lab-confirmed coronavirus infections over the past weekend. The latest figures mean that over 15,000 cases have been diagnosed in Finland over the past two weeks, which is about 4,199 more infections compared to the previous 14-day period.
THL also registered 26 further deaths linked to the virus since Friday. Finland's overall toll from the pandemic now stands at 1,335.
As of Monday afternoon, there are 317 people being treated in hospitals across the country for the virus, 51 of whom are in intensive care.
Omicron, the most mutated form of coronavirus detected so far, fuels domestic headlines on Monday. Read about it in this morning's domestic news round-up.
The crew of a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Hong Kong were in isolation on Sunday after a pilot on the flight was diagnosed with a Covid-19 infection.
The three pilots and nine cabin crew members may have to spend several weeks in a state-run quarantine centre. According to Finnair, the incident did not affect passengers. You can read more at this link.
Nearly 80 percent of the entire Finnish population, or about four million people, have received two doses of coronavirus vaccine, the national health institute THL said on Sunday. The number rose by 4,800 since the day before.
Among those aged 12 and over, who are currently eligible for vaccination, the percentage is 81.7 percent.
Meanwhile more than a quarter-million people in risk groups have received a third, booster jab. That number increased from Saturday by 12,800, rising to about five percent of the population.
The government is to decide on Sunday afternoon about entry restrictions for people arriving from southern Africa, Interior Minister Krista Mikkonen (Green) said on Twitter.
Officials have been scrambling to react to Thursday's news of a new, apparently much more infectious variant of Covid-19, first identified in South Africa last week.
Only a few people have arrived at Helsinki Airport from South Africa in recent days, and they have been asymptomatic, Timo Aronkytö, Deputy Mayor and Head of Health and Social Services in Vantaa, told the Finnish news agency STT on Sunday morning.
Test results from those tested on Saturday will be available on Sunday, but according to Aronkytö, the assumption is that the results are negative.
Details here.
This weekend launches the second Covid-era Christmas season in many Finnish towns, with holiday markets and Advent church services.
The opening is being celebrated on a somewhat muted note amid concerns about record-high levels of coronavirus infections.
On Sunday Finland's Lutheran and other Western Christian churches celebrate the beginning of Advent, marking the beginning of the pre-Christmas season. It is usually one of the most widely-attended events of the year at the nation's churches.
In the northern city of Oulu, the opening of the Christmas Street scheduled for Friday in was cancelled due to rising coronavirus infections.
Full story here.
Asko Järvinen, head of infectious diseases at Finland's largest health care provider, says that while the new Omicron variant causes uncertainty, most people should be able to gather for the holidays as usual.
"Omicron is causing a small amount of uncertainty, but at the moment it seems that Christmas may be completely normal," he said on Yle TV1's Ykkösaamu current affairs programme on Saturday morning.
The Foreign Ministry has urged Finns to avoid all travel to southern Africa, while the health ministry recommends testing and quarantines for arrivals from regions affected by the new Omicron variant.
You can read more here.
Helsinki Airport is tightening its health and safety precautions due to a new Covid variant first identified in South Africa, according to Timo Aronkytö, Deputy Mayor of Vantaa, where the airport is located. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called it a variant "of concern" and named it Omicron.
In a tweet on Saturday morning, Aronkytö said that everyone arriving from southern Africa will be directed to mandatory inspection, Covid testing and quarantine.
"Planes arriving from Munich and Frankfurt will be checked," Aronkytö wrote.
Public health authority THL has recommended that people in Finland avoid traveling to southern Africa because of a new coronavirus variant that is believed to be highly contagious.
The European Commission plans to propose the suspension of air travel from southern Africa, according to media reports, but authorities in Finland have so far made no decision on passengers arriving from the region.
Finland's national rail carrier VR has announced that passengers will be asked to show a Covid pass in order to be served in the restaurant carriage of trains.
The new measure will come into effect from Sunday, 28 November.
Finnish specialists say they are "worried" about the emergence of a new coronavirus variant with an unusually high number of mutations first detected in southern Africa.
Finland has confirmed new restrictions on restaurants, in an effort to slow the spread of Covid. Read more here.
Public health authority THL has registered 1,406 lab-confirmed coronavirus infections on Friday, a new record high number of daily cases. The previous record high, 1,344 infections, was recorded just 24 hours previously on Thursday.
THL further reported on Friday that there are currently 336 patients being treated in hospitals for the virus, an increase of 30 from Thursday. Some 44 patients are being treated in intensive care units. There have also been seven further deaths linked to the virus over the past 24 hours, bringing Finland's overall toll from the pandemic to 1,309.
Our paper review looks at rates of Covid vaccine coverage among foreign-language speakers in Finland. They're well below the overall figure, for several reasons. Read more here.
The Helsinki metropolitan area coronavirus coordination group has now re-issued its recommendations regarding the use of face masks and remote working for the entire region of Uusimaa.
All people above the age of 12 are instructed to wear a face mask in public spaces such as when in shops and transport, regardless of their vaccination status. The recommendations will be valid over the winter holidays, at least until January 16, 2022.
Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru (SDP) on Thursday announced the extension of the Communicable Disease Act into June 2022 as well as updated restrictions on the operations and opening hours of bars and restaurants.
According to the updated measures, bars and restaurants that do not require customers to show a Covid pass must stop serving at 5pm and close their doors at 6pm. In order to operate without restrictions, staff must ask for the Covid pass at all times.
The minister also revealed that the government is preparing a new vaccination strategy which will see vaccines rolled out to children aged between 5 and 11, and booster doses offered to people under the age of 60.
This year's Independence Day gala, which was set to take place with a limited number of guests at Helsinki's Presidential Palace on 6 December, has been cancelled.
According to a press release from the President's Office, the event has been called off due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
More details here.
The rapidly rising number of coronavirus infections, especially among unvaccinated individuals, is placing an increasing burden on hospital wards and intensive care units, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL said on Thursday.
At the end of last week, there were a total of 156 patients being treated in hospitals across Finland for the virus. As of Thursday afternoon, that figure stands at 306.
According to the figures released by THL on Thursday, the number of unjabbed patients is three or four times higher across all age groups except those over 30 years of age.
"The number of unvaccinated people in both hospital and intensive care is much higher than that of people who have been vaccinated twice," Mia Kontio of THL told the Thursday morning briefing.
While Covid-19 vaccination rates among language minorities in Finland remained low over the summer, there has been a 40 percent increase in vaccination coverage in all language groups since then, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
According to Maria Kontio, Chief Specialist at THL, the vaccination coverage for foreign language speakers in Finland currently stands at 56 percent.
Finland has reported 1,344 new Covid cases on Thursday, the highest number of infections reported over any 24-hour period since the beginning of the pandemic. This is according to the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Most of the cases, nearly 500, were detected in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS).
Financial group Nordea has launched an internal investigation into a controversial investment analysis that was accused of blatantly promoting anti-vaccine views, according to a report on Thursday morning by Iltalehti.
The analysis, which was published on the bank's website on Sunday, reportedly criticised Covid-19 restrictions which "imprison the unvaccinated" and claimed that vaccines increase the risk of infections, rather than fighting them.
Read more on this story, and the rest of our Thursday morning paper review, here.
With coronavirus infection rates rising, organisers of cultural events are once again worried about how to survive.
The events industry says that current patchwork coronavirus restrictions by regional authorities are confusing, and that the Covid pass should be quickly introduced throughout the country.
According to Maria Sahlstedt, director of communications at the Event Industry Association, there is strong support for requiring the Covid pass (officially the EU Digital Covid Certificate) at all public events throughout the sector.
The forest products industry, car batteries and other electrical and electronic industries are pulling Finland out of the coronavirus crisis, according to Etla Economic Research (previously the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy).
Etla's industrial review indicates that numerous industries are now on a growth trajectory. The institute estimates that exports in the forest products industry will increase by about 15 percent this year, with paper exports up by 10 percent.
Public health authority THL registered 39 Covid-related deaths on Wednesday. This is the highest number of deaths reported over any 24-hour period since the beginning of the pandemic, but the authority explained that Wednesday's toll includes delayed reports from October and earlier in November.
Finland's overall death toll from the pandemic now stands at 1,302.
There are currently just over 300 people being treated in hospital for the virus, a drop of about 20 patients since Monday. Forty-two patients are receiving intensive care treatment.
The authority also reported that about 3,000 people have received their second dose of the vaccine over the past 24 hours, while a first dose has been administered to 1,600 people over the same period.
Just over 81 percent of the population aged 12 and over have received two doses of vaccine, while 86.4 percent have received at least one. Four percent have been administered third booster jabs.
Finland's government will discuss the possible introduction of more restrictions aimed at curbing the recent uptick in Covid infections at a ministerial meeting early next week, Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) said on Wednesday.
"The coronavirus situation is worrying," Marin said. "It is now more important than ever that everyone gets the vaccines available to them."
Due to the worsening epidemic situation, on Tuesday the Helsinki metropolitan area coronavirus coordination group announced it had tightened recommendations regarding people's use of face masks in public places, regardless of their vaccination status.
The coronavirus coordination group of Southwest Finland has reinstated recommendations for people across the region to work remotely, if possible.
The guidance is not mandatory but a strong recommendation, according to a statement by the group.
According to the group, the epidemic situation has deteriorated at such a rapid pace that new methods of preventing the spread of Covid need to be taken.
In October, the Finnish government lifted nationwide telecommuting recommendations while simultaneously handing over the responsibility of issuing such guidance to local authorities.
The Southwest Finland coordination group also issued a strong recommendation for everyone - including fully-vaccinated individuals - to wear face masks in all situations where it is not possible to maintain safe distances from others, both indoors and outdoors.
A coronavirus coordination group in Pirkanmaa has also issued similar recommendations.
There were 1,088 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases diagnosed across Finland over the past day on Tuesday, according to the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
The largest proportion of cases (403) were seen in the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district.
Meanwhile, THL reported on Tuesday there were five new Covid-related fatalities in the country. While the agency does not issue reports on such deaths on a daily basis, THL reported on Monday that the country recorded nine deaths over the weekend.
As of Tuesday, Finland's overall Covid death toll stood at 1,263, according to THL.
According to the latest data from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), hospitals in Finland had more Covid-19 patients than ever before on Monday.
As of Monday, 322 people had been hospitalised after contracting the virus, compared to 284 a week ago and 255 the week before that. The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) has had to increase its ICU units from 15 to 21 to accommodate the growing number of Covid-19 patients requiring critical care.
Hospitals are also facing an additional burden from patients falling ill from other viruses, namely, the seasonal flu and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
With a fifth wave of the pandemic gaining pace in Finland, health centres in the capital are struggling to clear backlogs, according to Timo Lukkarinen, medical director at the City of Helsinki.
Helsinki's health centres operate a callback service. Lukkarinen told Yle the capital's 23 public clinics can receive up to 2,000 calls per week that staff don't have time to respond to, despite the fact that the law stipulates that nurses should evaluate next steps for callers within 36 hours.
Public health authority THL announced on Monday that 2,616 new lab-confirmed coronavirus infections were diagnosed in Finland over the weekend. This brings Finland's overall total since the beginning of the pandemic to 177,439.
The authority also reported nine further deaths linked to the virus over the weekend. Finland's overall toll now stands at 1,258.
As of Monday afternoon, there are 322 people being treated in hospitals across the country for the virus - an increase of 45 patients from Friday - and is the highest number of hospital patients than at any other point in the pandemic. Some 43 patients are being treated in intensive care units.
It's only a matter of time before every person in Finland is exposed to coronavirus, according to vaccine specialist Mika Rämet.
Ilta-Sanomat reports him saying that the current vaccination coverage will land 30,000 people in the hospital over the next year.
Read more on this story, and the rest of our Monday morning paper review, here.
Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District's (HUS) Chief Physician, Asko Järvinen, told Ilta-Sanomat on Sunday that Finland will need new restrictions to protect those unvaccinated against coronavirus.
Finland has recorded around 1,000 daily cases over the past week, causing a fifth wave of the pandemic to gain pace in the country, according to Järvinen.
Some 1,500 people gathered in downtown Helsinki on Saturday to protest efforts to curb the virus.
Public health authority THL has recorded 1,191 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday.
This figure is just short of the 1,259 cases registered on Thursday -- which was the highest daily case count in the pandemic so far -- and means that Finland has recorded 11,800 cases over the past two weeks. This is 3,400 more infections that the previous 14-day period.
Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is recommending that anyone taking care of people at risk of a serious Covid infection should get a third dose of Covid vaccine.
In addition, THL says that local authorities should consider giving booster shots to other care staff to try and ensure services can withstand high demand this winter.
Covid cases are set to increase during the winter, but some experts remain optimistic about the spring as Covid goes from pandemic to endemic. Read more in our paper review.
The Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland (Avi) has announced the reintroduction of restrictions on public events in the Uusimaa region, specifically in so-called 'high-risk' indoor arenas, such as live music venues, that require audiences to stand.
Unvaccinated individuals are 33 times more likely to require intensive care unit (ICU) treatment than double-jabbed people, and 19 times more likely to need hospital care, according to figures released on Thursday by public health authority THL.
Public health authority THL has registered 1,259 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours. This is the highest number of daily cases reported throughout the entire Covid epidemic.
Finland's overall total number of infections since the beginning of the epidemic now stands at 173,632.
The authority also reported 10 further deaths linked to the virus since yesterday, bringing Finland's toll from the virus to 1,246.
There are also currently 299 people receiving hospital care for the virus, of whom 38 are in IC units.
The City of Vaasa's Chief Physician Heikki Kaukoranta has called on authorities to introduce mandatory vaccination for every resident in Finland aged 12 years and above.
Kaukoranta told Yle he is concerned about the rapidly increasing number of infections across the country, saying a compulsory vaccination order would be the solution.
Due to the Covid situation, invitations to this year's Independence Day gala at Helsinki's Presidential Palace on 6 December will be limited to 200 guests, President Sauli Niinistö announced on Wednesday.
Under normal circumstances, the Finnish president and his or her spouse greet up to 2,000 guests at the annual gala, but last year the event was called off entirely due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Tampere Hall announced on Wednesday that people attending events at the venue will be asked to show a Covid pass in order to gain entry, effective immediately.
The venue said that the reason for the change in requirements is that the lobby areas of the hall are classified as restaurant space and therefore the need for the pass must apply to the entire building.
"There was really no other option," Tampere Hall CEO Pauliina Ahokas told Yle, adding that the matter was reviewed from the perspective of customers, restaurant operators and event organisers.
Over the past two weeks, Finland recorded around 11,000 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases, which is approximately 3,100 more than during the previous two-week period, the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported.
The agency also reported on Wednesday there were 1,151 new coronavirus cases diagnosed over the past day.
Meanwhile, there are increasing numbers of people requiring hospital care for coronavirus-related illness, with 299 such patients in hospitals across the country, 38 of whom in intensive care, as of Wednesday. Those figures reflect increases of six more people in hospital and two in ICU since Monday.
THL also reported three new Covid-related fatalities, bringing the country's overall death toll to 1,236 as of Wednesday.
Finland is in no hurry to broadly roll out third Covid vaccine booster shots, as two jabs already protects the majority of the population from severe complications caused by the virus.
That's the opinion of chief physician Hanna Nohynek from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), and Sally Leskinen, the chief medical officer at the Kanta-Häme hospital district.
The hospital district of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) has begun transferring Covid-19 patients requiring critical care to other parts of Finland due to a lack of capacity, according to newspaper Helsingin Sanomat
HUS is currently setting up six intensive care units in addition to its existing 15 to keep up with the growing demand.
Read more about this and other stories in Wednesday's newspaper review.
Uusimaa is to see new restrictions on gatherings announced on Thursday and in force a week later, as the region centred on Helsinki struggles to deal with an upsurge in Covid cases.
The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported there were 937 new lab-confirmed Covid cases diagnosed over the past day in Finland on Tuesday, according to news service STT.
Over the past two weeks there were nearly 10,900 new Covid cases detected, which is more than 3,100 more cases than the previous two-week period, according to the health authority.
There were an additional three new Covid-related fatalities recorded in Finland, bringing the country's overall epidemic death toll to 1,233. On Monday THL reported 14 deaths caused by the disease.
Today's paper review looks at the prospects of requiring employees to have a Covid pass, increased infection rates among children, and a call for tighter restrictions to try and slow down the epidemic. Read more here.
The Regional State Administrative Agency of Southwest Finland (Avi) has ordered new coronavirus-related restrictions, capping the number of participants permitted to attend meetings and public events at 50 people.
The new rules go into effect on Tuesday 16 November and will be in place for one month.
However, the new restrictions will not apply to events and establishments that use the Covid pass, according to Avi's Heikki Mäki.
Avi made the decision based on guidance from the social affairs and health ministry as well as a local expert assessment in the hospital district of Southwest Finland.
"Despite well-advanced Covid vaccinations, the situation is currently very critical and the decision was deemed to be necessary, Mäki said, who added he has already been in contact with organisers of large events on Monday morning and that he had received positive feedback about the decision.
Government talks restaurant restrictions on Monday evening
According to Yle information, the Finnish government is holding an extraordinary meeting on Monday evening to decide on whether to extend coronavirus-related restrictions on restaurants and bars.
The government will not be tightening current restrictions, but rather expand them in four new areas, including Northern Ostrobothnia, Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme and the Länsi-Pohja hospital district.
Restrictions are already in place in Southern and Central Ostrobothnia, Kymenlaakso, Ostrobothnia, Päijät-Häme, Satakunta, Uusimaa as well as Southwest Finland.
However, establishments that use the Covid pass will be able to circumvent the restrictions.
The eventual restrictions decided on Monday are to take effect on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) has characterised Finland's current epidemic situation as being serious and the Minister for Family and Basic Services Krista Kiuru (SDP) has called for increased restrictions aimed at people who are not vaccinated against Covid.
The Pirkanmaa hospital district reported a record 158 persons tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday, surpassing the previous single-day high of 106 on 6 August 2021. As of Monday, the incidence rate for the latest 14 day period in the region was at 185.5 per 100,000 residents according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL.
The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported on Monday that Finland recorded 3,166 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases since Thursday.
The agency normally issues updates on new coronavirus cases on weekdays but due to a technical problem did not issue the update on Friday, a situation that caused Monday's figure to be unusually high.
The largest number of cases recorded during that period (1,298) were seen in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District.
Meanwhile, hospitals across Finland were treating 293 patients for Covid-related illness, 36 of whom were in intensive care, as of Monday.
The health agency also reported 14 new coronavirus-related fatalities since Friday.
A citizens' initiative opposing the introduction of Covid passports in workplaces has gathered the required 50,000 signatures needed to be taken up by Parliament.
You can read more in Monday morning's Finnish press roundup.
Finland's Covid vaccination coverage is slowly climbing.
The Finnish institute for health and welfare (THL) on Sunday said 80.5 percent of residents over the age of 12 were double jabbed. Some 86.2 percent of those eligible for the vaccine had received one shot by Sunday.
The Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland (Avi) announced on Friday that it is considering tightening restrictions on events in the Uusimaa region, following recommendations from the Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group.
The coordination group has suggested limiting the number of attendees at indoor concerts to at least 50 percent of the normal capacity. It also recommends imposing stricter restrictions on events at indoor sports stadiums.
Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru (SDP) has announced via a tweet on Friday afternoon that she has been exposed to a Covid-infected person and will work remotely until further notice.
"I have been exposed to the coronavirus. Despite being fully vaccinated, I will work remotely as a precautionary measure,," Kiuru wrote.
The City of Tampere is making preparations for libraries, museums and sports facilities in the city to begin asking customers for a Covid pass. The possible introduction of the pass will be discussed at a meeting of the city's board on Monday 15 November.
Use of the Covid pass in the city could be adopted if authorities decide to impose restrictions on public gatherings or limit how many people can be in a certain place -- such as a gym or restaurant -- at the same time.
Friday morning's newspaper roundup explores Finland's Covid booster shot rollout, among other topics.
Some 2.4 percent of double-jabbed individuals have so far received a third dose offered six months after their second shot.
The European Commission has raised its prognosis for Finland's economic growth. On Thursday the Commission forecast GDP growth of 3.4 percent in Finland this year, up from its previous estimate of 2.7 percent.
According to the Commission, economic activity in Finland recovered to pre-pandemic levels in the middle of this year.
Finland's Covid situation looks to be getting worse, with increasing case counts, higher test positivity and greater strain on hospitals and healthcare providers - just as the run-up to Christmas prompts greater social mixing and therefore possible exposures to Covid.
That's according to the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health at their weekly Covid briefing.
The government decided late Wednesday to extend current restaurant restrictions, a move which the Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa condemned as "unnecessary" and "unreasonable".
Restrictions were originally scheduled to expire on Monday.
On Wednesday evening government ministers agreed not to bring in special rules to take back powers from regional agencies. Read more in our paper review here.
Health officials in southwest Lapland declared on Wednesday that the Covid situation in the Länsi-Pohja healthcare district has worsened, re-entering the community transmission phase.
Also on Wednesday, officials said the situation had weakened in the Kymenlaakso region of southeast Finland, where nine patients are receiving hospital treatment for Covid. The largest numbers of new cases are in the cities of Kouvola and Kotka.
The Acting Managing Director of the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), Markku Mäkijärvi, said the government needs to clarify how it makes decisions about Covid-related restrictions.
"I would like to see more clarity about the roles and responsibilities of ministries and regional decision-makers," he told Yle TV1's breakfast show on Wednesday.
He made the comments a day after the hospital district announced that it was raising its preparedness levels in order to deal with increasing numbers of Covid patients needing hospital care.
The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) announced on Wednesday that Finland has finally achieved 80 percent double-dose vaccination coverage for those aged 12 years and over. The figure had remained at 79.9 percent since Sunday.
In total, more than eight million doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in Finland since December 2020. More than 85 percent of those aged 12 and over have received at least their first dose.
All age groups over 45 in have more than 80 percent vaccination coverage for the second dose.
"Recently we have seen that vaccination coverage of young people has risen encouragingly. Indeed, those aged 16-24 have exceeded 80 percent vaccination coverage for the first dose," said Mia Kontio, a chief specialist at THL.
A third booster vaccine is currently being offered to those in risk groups, with 2.3 percent of the population aged 12 and over have received three jabs.
The Institute for Health and Welfare's (THL) health security director, Mika Salminen, has said he is dissatisfied with how several restaurants and bars have selectively used the Covid pass.
A Covid pass is a certificate which states whether the holder has been fully vaccinated, has recovered from the virus, or has recently tested negative. Customer-facing businesses like restaurants and gyms can require people to show their Covid status in order to bypass epidemic-related restrictions, which can limit things like opening and alcohol sale hours as well as cap the number of customers permitted inside.
However, Salminen said that some establishments operate under the restriction rules during weekdays and then only require customers to show Covid passes on the weekends.
The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported nine new Covid-related fatalities on Tuesday, bringing the country' epidemic death toll to 1,209.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin's (SDP) government is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss the Covid situation. According to information obtained by Yle, the coalition government members plan to gather at the Helsinki House of Estates at 4pm.
The government has faced increased pressure to align its strategies and plans as new cases as well as Covid-related hospitalisations continue to rise. The disease is particularly prevalent among unvaccinated individuals.
At the beginning of September, the government approved a new Covid strategy. According to the new plan, the dismantling of epidemic-related restrictions hinges on at least 80 percent of the population being fully vaccinated against the disease.
Finland recorded 810 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases over the past day on Tuesday, according to the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), bringing the country's total confirmed Covid case count to more than 165,300.
The highest number of new cases, 392, were diagnosed in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, while the second-highest number of cases, 85, was seen in the hospital district of Pirkanmaa.
Helsingin Sanomat wonders on Tuesday morning if we may find ourselves in a world where a compulsory vaccination is required in some sectors, a strict Covid "passport" is implemented, or even lockdowns imposed on the unvaccinated.
Mika Salminen, Director of Health Security at the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), stressed to the paper that he hopes that there will not a polarisation of society.
"We know that coercion will not solve the problem of the slowdown in vaccination uptake, but may even lead to a worsening of attitudes," said Salminen.
"Carrots are always a better option. The starting point must be to share the right information and make it understandable," he added.
Read more on this story, and the rest of our Tuesday morning paper review, here.
When coronavirus first appeared, it was not thought that meteorological or temperature differences had a major effect on the virus' ability to spread.
However, a newly-published international study has shown that the weather can affect infection rates in several ways. But it also found little evidence that meteorological conditions particularly influenced local spreads of Covid-19, concluding that people's behaviour and government interventions had a larger impact on infection rates.
The number of people requiring hospital care for coronavirus-related illnesses has increased, according to the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
As of Monday, there were a total of 256 people receiving hospital treatment for Covid-19 across Finland, which is 15 more than there were on Friday. Meanwhile, 34 of those patients were being treated in intensive care units.
Finland reported there were 16 new Covid-related fatalities, bringing the virus' overall death toll to 1,200.
Finnish health authorities on Monday reported 2,016 new lab-confirmed coronavirus infections in the country since Friday, according to the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Regionally, the most cases over the weekend (832) were seen in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District.
As of Monday, Finland has recorded a total of 164,492 confirmed Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the epidemic.
Many people in Finland have had to switch to working from home, or telecommuting, during the coronavirus pandemic - and Helsingin Sanomat reports that this can have both advantages and disadvantages for the telecommuter and their family.
One reader said they had suffered from loneliness and anxiety caused by the situation for almost two years. "Does my spouse's employer have the right to take my own home from me and turn it into an office?"
Finland is set to reach the 80 percent target for full vaccinations among those aged 12 and over on Monday, more than a week after the government's target date. On Sunday the figure rose to 79.9 percent. Meanwhile 86 percent have received at least one jab, and just over two percent have gotten third booster shots.
Just over 70 percent of the whole population are now fully inoculated. The National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (Krar) is expected to issue its opinion on extending vaccinations to children aged 5-11 in late November or early December.
Ähtäri Zoo in western Finland faces financial trouble due to last year's drop in visitors due to coronavirus restrictions, and says it only received a fraction of promised state pandemic support. As a result, the local mayor says it may have to give up its star attractions, two giant pandas whose upkeep costs a million euros annually.
Most people in Finland think that the restaurant and events industries have suffered the most from the pandemic, according to a survey published by the Foundation for Municipal Development on Saturday.
Nine out of 10 respondents said that those working in the restaurant, culture, arts and event sectors, as well as entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, have suffered quite a lot or very much from the crisis.
The share of the population aged 12 and over who are fully vaccinated has still not quite reached the target of 80 percent, which the government had hoped for by the end of October. As of Saturday afternoon, the figure stood at 79.7 percent, while nearly 86 percent had received at least one shot. Just over two percent have received a third booster shot.
As of Friday there were just over 200 patients in hospital, with 29 in intensive care. That number has remained below 40 since April. The death toll rose by eight to 1,184.
As Finland approaches the target of a coronavirus vaccination rate of 80 percent of those aged 12 and over, tabloid Ilta-Sanomat looks at a study showing large variation in rates according to profession.
The report by the Helsinki Graduate School of Economics (GSE) compared vaccine coverage between employees in different industries.
It found, for example, about a quarter of those working in the construction sector have not been vaccinated, while only seven percent of those working in the financial and insurance sectors have not yet had a jab.
Read more on this story, and the rest of our Friday morning paper review, here.
The coronavirus pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on the mental well-being of students even after a return to Finland's university campuses.
Demand among university students for mental health services this autumn has been higher than total annual levels in the past, according to the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS).
Health authorities have not yet made a decision on whether or not children 5-11 years of age are to be included in Finland's coronavirus vaccination programme.
THL's National Vaccine Expert Group is currently preparing a report on the subject, which is expected to be completed by the turn of November-December. THL will then make a recommendation for or against vaccination to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. A final decision will be made by the government.
The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported on Wednesday that the number of people receiving hospital treatment for Covid in Finland increased over the past day by 12 to 238 patients, 32 of whom are in intensive care units.
THL also reported six additional Covid-related fatalities, bringing the country's epidemic death toll to 1,776.
Meanwhile, the health agency reported 890 new Covid cases - along with 260 previously unreported cases - over the past day on Wednesday. THL initially reported there were 1,150 cases over the past day, but later clarified the figures.
There were on Tuesday 807 new lab-confirmed cases of Covid-19 registered in Finland over the past 24 hours, the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported. The country has logged a total of nearly 160,000 coronavirus infections since the beginning of the epidemic.
Most of Tuesday's cases (365) were diagnosed in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District and the second-most (73) were seen in the hospital district of Pirkanmaa.
THL also reported on Tuesday there were three additional Covid-related fatalities in Finland over the past day.
Finland's Ministry of Family Affairs and Social Services is currently investigating whether use of the Covid pass could be extended, for example in regions where there are no restrictions, according to a statement by Minister Krista Kiuru (SDP).
"A legal assessment will resolve the issue. Then we will find out what the possibilities are in that regard," Kiuru said.
Currently the Covid pass is used only as an alternative to restrictions, such as how many people can attend a public event or be in a restaurant at the same time.
The pandemic has increased demand in Finland for ivermectin, a trend also witnessed in other parts of the world, despite research showing no significant impact of the anti-parasitic drug on treating Covid.
Some ivermectin studies have even been downright fraudulent, according to The Guardian.
Ivermectin has been used to cure animals and people from worms and lice since the 1980s. Finnish pharmacies sell the drug under the brand name Stromectol, produced by US drug maker Merck.
Public health authority THL has reported a total of 1,460 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases since Friday, bringing Finland's total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic to 158,991.
The authority also registered 12 further deaths linked to the virus since Friday. Finland's death toll now stands at 1,170.
Hanna Nohynek, chief physician with public health agency THL, said on Saturday that the agency is currently working on a draft recommendation for Finland to begin vaccinating children aged between 5 and 11 years old against the Covid virus.
The move comes after a panel of experts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA said the benefits of jabbing children with the Pfizer vaccine outweigh any other health risks.
Currently Finland has vaccinated just under 70 percent of the entire population of the country, while 75 percent have received at least one dose.
THL wants to bring in Covid pass rules for staff in care homes, to try and raise the vaccine coverage rate among healthcare staff. At present some 80 percent of healthcare staff in Finland are fully vaccinated. Read our story here.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday at the Kremlin in Moscow. The meeting comes just as the Russian capital heads into lockdown amid record-high daily Covid-19 death tolls.
Bilateral issues on the table may include the impact of Russia's coronavirus surge on cross-border traffic during the upcoming holiday season.
Allegro express trains between Helsinki and St. Petersburg are due to resume traffic before the Christmas season. Last week Russian media reported that the service might re-start on 12 December, but this depends on agreement on Covid restrictions between the two countries' authorities.
Unlike neighbouring Estonia, Finland does not allow entry by visitors who have received the Russian Sputnik vaccine rather than EU-approved jabs.
The Allegro train has not operated between Helsinki and St. Petersburg for a year and a half.
The Covid-19 situation in Finland has remained largely unchanged over the past couple of weeks, according to officials from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
The introduction of the Covid passport seems to have increased the willingness of people under 35 to take their first dose of coronavirus vaccine. An increasing number of restaurants, bars and clubs are requiring a valid pass for entry, as this allows them to remain open later.
There has also been a rise in vaccinations among youngsters aged 12-15. This may be partly explained by travel related to last week's autumn school holidays.
Public health authority THL has confirmed 673 new coronavirus infections on Thursday. Finland's total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 156,959.
The agency reported that the highest increase in case numbers came from the Helsinki and Uusimaa district, with 250 new infections.
Finland intends to respond to Latvia's request for assistance due to the country's deteriorating Covid situation, Safety and Health Department adviser Lasse Ilkka from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health told Yle Radio Suomi on Thursday.
Citing government sources, news agency STT reported that Finland's government parties have unanimously agreed that coronavirus-related restaurant and bar restrictions should be extended even after they are scheduled to expire at the end of this month.
The news agency said the government is reviewing this week how the restrictions could be extended.
Public health authority THL has confirmed 739 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday. Finland's total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 156,286.
The agency also reported a slight decrease in the number of people receiving treatment in hospitals for the virus, down to 206 from 215 on Monday. There have also been no further Covid-related fatalities in Finland since THL last reported the latest figures on Monday. Finland's death toll from the pandemic therefore remains at 1,150.
Helsingin Sanomat's main story on Wednesday morning concerns a difference of opinion between two of Finland's top pandemic specialists over how safe it currently is to travel to Estonia or the other Baltic nations.
Pasi Pohjola of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health tells HS that Finnish authorities have been monitoring the rapidly deteriorating pandemic situation in Estonia "with concern".
However, public health agency THL's Director of Health Security Mika Salminen believes fully vaccinated people can make trips across the Baltic Sea.
It appears very unlikely that Finland's business travel will return to pre-Covid levels, according to an informal Yle survey of more than two dozen of the country's top-listed companies.
Yle asked 30 firms listed at the top of the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange about their plans for the future. A total of 25 replied to the survey, with nearly all of them saying that, looking ahead, they are planning significantly less business-related air travel than before the Covid crisis began.
The Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Monday said there were 1,732 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases reported in Finland since Friday, the last time such figures were reported.
The institute also reported 11 additional Covid-related fatalities in Finland, bringing the country's epidemic death toll to 1,150.
As of Monday there were 215 Covid patients receiving care in the country's hospitals, 34 of whom were in intensive care units.
The number of Covid patients in ICU wards increased by four over the weekend, while the number of patients in hospital care rose by 10.
VR and HSL said passengers can continue to wear face coverings if they wish to do so in accordance with the national mask recommendation.
HSL introduced the mask mandate in March this year, as Finland's infection rate spiralled, but said it was moving from obligation to recommendation in line with the easing of wider societal restrictions.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has lifted its recommendation on masks in schools for pupils in grade 6 and up as of 25 October.
The risk of contracting coronavirus in daycares, schools and other educational institutions is now small, according to the THL.
Find out more about this story and other news in Monday morning's news round up.
For previous updates, click here.
TetraSys Oy.