Coordination group appointed to support readiness preventing coronavirus

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has appointed a coordination group to support preparedness and management in healthcare and social welfare because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, said a government press release.

In Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the national preparedness and management of existing and emerging public health emergencies.

The aim of the new coordination group is to step up the management and coordination of measures in the administrative branch of the ministry.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus a public health emergency of international concern. The coordination group will plan, manage and coordinate measures in healthcare and social welfare to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus.

It will support the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea), the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira), the regional state administrative agencies and the municipalities and joint municipal authorities in their efforts to prevent spread of the virus.

An operational group will work under the coordination group. Its task is to maintain situational awareness in the field and coordinate preparedness measures. The term of office of the two groups will remain in force until further notice.

The Ministry and the THL cooperate with the WHO, EU Member States, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to prevent outbreaks of all infectious diseases.

Meanwhile, the THL has updated its instructions as coronavirus situation has changed.

The situation regarding the coronavirus epidemic has changed in recent days and the increased risk of infection now applies not only to spending time in mainland China but also in Iran, South Korea and the Italian areas of Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont or Emilia-Romagna.

As of 25 February number of cases have been recorded in South Korea and Iran. Geographically extensive transmission chains have also been identified in Italy.

Persons who fall ill with a sudden respiratory infection on 25 February or at a later date should be treated as having possibly contracted coronavirus if they have spent time in mainland China, Iran, South Korea or the above-mentioned regions of Italy within the previous 14 days.

For the most part, ski resorts in Northern Italy are not located in the affected areas, and there is no increased risk of infection for those travelling via Milan airport.

THL has updated its guidelines for health care professionals based on the new information. Rapid identification of cases is important, so measures can be taken to prevent other people from contracting the disease.