Coronavirus test rule eased for mild symptom of vaccinated people

The metropolitan area’s coronavirus coordination group proposed that, as a general rule, COVID-19 testing should not apply to asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic fully vaccinated persons who have received a second vaccine at least one week earlier.

The test rule will be not applicable also for those who have had a confirmed coronavirus infection in the previous six months and received one vaccine, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Tuesday.

However, the change would not apply to people known to have been exposed to the coronavirus, social and health care workers working with clients and care and treatment units for the elderly, for example.

It is necessary to have a more precise policy on the targeting of the testing for the entire Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa before its implementation, the group reccpommended.

Following the removal of the two-metre safe distance requirement and the new guidelines for recreational activities issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the metropolitan area’s coronavirus coordination group updated its guidelines for recreational activities.

Recreational activities on municipal premises are subject to specific health and safety guidelines, violations of which may lead to the cancellation of facility reservations or the suspension of the activities.

According to the guidelines, exercises and activities should be carried out indoors in such a way that close contact can be avoided or significantly reduced. If necessary, the size of the group should be reduced to a smaller size than normal.

The metropolitan area’s coronavirus coordination group noted that the composition of a recreational group does not have to be fixed and based on pre-registration.

The metropolitan area’s coronavirus coordination group strongly recommends that instructors and children over 12 continue to wear face masks indoors, unless health reasons strictly prevent it.

A face mask does not need to be worn during an exercise performance. Parents and escorts should not linger in the recreation and changing rooms. The names of those present at recreational activities are recorded at each session.

The Cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, and the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland established the Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group on 10 September 2020.

The City of Helsinki is responsible for organising the group’s operations.

In addition to the Cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, the City of Kauniainen also follows the restrictions and recommendations of the coordination group.