New calculations from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) suggest that the government’s double test model for inbound travellers to Finland may not be necessary.
According to THL, visitors could take one coronavirus test at the border if they already have a negative test result from the country of origin, which would allow a week's visit without quarantine requirements.
The institute has estimated that when Finland tests passengers arriving from countries designated as risk areas at places like airports, the danger that the passenger is contagious is smaller for stays of up to one week.
Risk countries are currently considered to be locations with more than 25 Covid cases per 100,000 residents. Finland’s infection rate rose to 27.2 cases per 100,000 on Monday.
According to documents obtained by Yle, the THL plans to propose changes to the Infectious Diseases Act that would allow tourists to visit for five to seven days. This would however require a negative Covid-19 test at the border combined with risk reduction based on tour operators’ safety arrangements.
Tourism operators in Levi, Finnish Lapland will be discussing government’s travel restrictions when Economic Affairs Minister Mika Lintilä (Cen) and Foreign Trade Minister Ville Skinnari (SDP) visit and hold discussions with representatives of the local travel sector.
Government’s double-test and quarantine method has come in for harsh criticism, including from the travel industry. Critics believe it will almost entirely shut down the vital winter season for operators in Lapland.
Minority of infections from abroad
In justifying its new proposals, the THL pointed to the fact that the effectiveness of coronavirus measures depends on the situation in both departure and arrival countries. If the difference is small or non-existent, drastic actions have less impact.
Finland meanwhile has seen the number of new Covid-19 infections increase rapidly in the past two weeks. The overall incidence rate of the disease on Monday was 27.2 cases per 100,000 residents and it was even higher in some hospital districts.
In its statement on proposed border measures, the THL stressed that at the beginning of August half of new infections in Finland originated from abroad. However currently just five percent of new cases are related to overseas travel.
According to the model suggested by the government, starting from 23 November, visitors entering Finland from risk countries must show proof of a negative coronavirus test upon arrival. That test must have been taken within 72 hours of departure.
Meanwhile visitors planning a stay of more than three days will be required to quarantine, but could be released after three days if another coronavirus test returns a negative result.
Edited at 20:34 5 October 2020 to reflect that the THL suggested that visitors could take one coronavirus test at the border if they already have a negative test result from the country of origin, which would allow a week's visit without quarantine requirements. Previous version incorrectly referred to a single test requirement.
This mistake was also made in the 15:30 Yle Mondo and 15:55 Radio 1 bulletins on 5 October.