With the winter break, locally known as the 'ski holidays', having officially commenced in some cities across the country, schools are supplying students and school employees with Covid home tests as a precautionary measure for their return.
In an attempt to prevent Covid outbreaks, the city of Kouvola has already distributed some 50,000 tests to school pupils and staff. The tests were handed out in several batches, with the last batch sent out on Wednesday.
Tampere has announced it will be distributing kits at the city's schools on Thursday and Friday while Kokkola said it will provide students and staff with some 60,000 tests.
School authorities are recommending that people only get tested if they are symptomatic. The tests are to be carried out individually with authorities saying that they will not be tracking results.
Symptomatic individuals who take the tests are being instructed to stay home at least for five days in case of a positive result and only return to school, work, or daycare until two days after the symptoms have ended.
If a test result is negative despite still showing symptoms, students and staff are advised to take another test and then stay at home until symptoms have disappeared for at least two days.
This year's holiday, which traditionally sees many families travel to ski resorts in northern Finland, will take place between weeks 8 and 10. Most schools in southern Finland are on winter break 19-27 February, followed by most in central Finland 26 Feb-6 March and eastern and northern areas 5-13 March.