According to information available on Thursday, no change is being made to quarantine guidelines for travellers crossing the border between the twin Swedish-Finnish city of Haparanda-Tornio. Instead, an information point is planned at the border, where coronavirus tests can be administered if deemed necessary.
It is common for people to commute from Tornio to Haparanda and vice versa, a practice that would become impossible if a fortnight's quarantine was required every time someone crossed to Finland.
Leena Karjalainen, the Director of Health Services in Tornio is also chairing a Working Group on Health Security at the Western Border, set up by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. She told Yle that not everyone coming from Sweden to Finland across the land border will be automatically subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine.
Karjalainen emphasised that the decision to impose a mandatory quarantine is always made on medical grounds and based on powers included in Communicable Diseases Act.
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) did say she was recommending people in the Tornio region work from home if at all possible because of the higher prevalence of coronavirus in the area.
This week's All Points North podcast covered the government's coronavirus announcements, among other topics. You can listen to the full podcast via the embedded player here, Yle Areena, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your usual podcast player using the RSS feed. Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and sign up for the APN newsletter.
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Trusting in the public
Karjalainen said that health officials in Finland's western border region will continue to rely on the cooperation of the public in efforts to keep infections under control, and on voluntary quarantines.
"At the moment, our perception in this working group is that mandatory quarantines and mandatory testing do not bring the desired result among the general public. Nor do they create confidence in the health authorities," Karjalainen explained.
She did note, however, that the situation may change.
"Of course, the situation will be different if the epidemic becomes very serious. But we are relying on our citizens and on voluntary quarantine," Karjalainen added.
Info point opening on the border
Tornio is currently preparing to set up a combined coronavirus information point and testing site in the immediate vicinity of the border with Sweden.
"Coronavirus testing will be carried out as needed, and at a low threshold, even on the basis of minor symptoms," Karjalainen said, adding that the decision on a test is always made by a healthcare professional based on an assessment of individual need.
Plans for the Tornio border health point are to be finalised next week and it is expected to start operations as soon as the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health gives the green light.