Dozens of coronavirus infections have been diagnosed among a group of berry pickers from Thailand working in Lapland.
Mass testing organised by the Lapland Hospital District of 110 seasonal workers in the region found that 40 had contracted the virus.
The testing was carried out after news reports earlier this week revealed that 44 berry pickers in the Kainuu region had tested positive for the virus.
Markku Broas, Chief Physician of Infectious Diseases of the Lapland Hospital District (LSHP) told Yle that the workers had been tested as required by regulations when they entered Finland and on the third day after entry.
He said that this case proves that no system is one hundred percent effective.
"Even if the test is done on the third day, the virus can appear and become contagious later. It has apparently happened here that the infection has come after the third day," he said.
Mass testing set to continue in Lapland
Broas pointed out that as the berry pickers are living and working together in the same groups, there is a high risk that the virus will be transmitted from one person to another.
"Especially in the case of the Delta virus variant, this is the situation," he said.
A total of 250 berry pickers are set to be tested in the Lapland region over Friday and the weekend.
"We also go through with the companies very carefully about what their isolation and quarantine practices are. So far, the companies have done a good job in terms of safety. Preliminary testing has been done and bubble practices have been pursued," Broas said.
The infected berry pickers have been isolated and are not currently working. Quarantined workers are tested every two days.
"If they are healthy, they can pick berries. But if a negative test result is followed by a positive test result, the berries they pick can be identified and not delivered to consumers," Broas said.