Finland has not yet decided on restrictions on movement as a means of combating the current wave of coronavirus infections, but in recent weeks there have been several reports that the government has addressed the issue.
Finland’s largest daily circulation, Helsingin Sanomat reports that, however, the police authorities are already ready to implement these measures if they are introduced.
National Police Commissioner Seppo Kolehmainen told the newspaper, however, that if restrictions are imposed, they must be so clear and simple that both the authorities and the public understand the rules.
Although he expressed hope that restrictions on movement would not come into force, police are doing their best to enforce them.
Helsingin Sanomat states that the leaders of the governing parties will meet on Friday to discuss the next steps in combating the epidemic and discuss possible restrictions on movement.
Minister of Family and Social Affairs Krista Kiuru (SDP) said at a news conference on Thursday that restrictions on movement have not been ruled out.
The issue was further emphasized on Thursday when the mayor of Turku Go to Invoice filed a formal request for official police assistance in quarantine supervision during what he described as the city’s worst virus outbreak.
Police Commissioner Kolehmainen told Helsingin Sanomat that he did not want to see a situation where the police have to interpret the rules or one where the police have to question citizens about their income and expenses.
"Similarly, fines and other sanctions must be so simple that the police and the public understand them," he added.
Review of vaccination strategy
Tabloids Evening News will present Yle’s televised debate on Thursday night, in which members of the national vaccination expert group proposed a change in strategy that would shift vaccine supply to areas with the highest rates of coronavirus infection.
Managing Director of Helsinki University Hospital Juha Tuominen pointed out that regional variation is wide, with infection rates in some areas ten or more times higher than in others.
As Ilta-Sanomat points out, these "red spots" on the map are mainly in the metropolitan area along the main commuter routes.
Tuominen noted that the public has a right to equal protection, but he also interpreted this as meaning that more vaccines should be available where it is most needed. He argued that with proper targeting, one-fifth of coronavirus-induced hospitalizations could be avoided.
"This is important at individual level and also at Community level," Tuominen pointed out.
Swedish daily Hufvudstadsbladet writes that if the targeting of vaccination activities and vaccine distribution is decided, it will take 3-4 weeks at best to implement the new policy in practice.
Under this new system, vaccines would be distributed based on population, number of new infections, and hospitalizations in recent weeks.
At the same time, Jyväskylän Keskisuomalainen perform a query The NewsFinnish newsgroup shows that most hospital districts across the country are not in favor of changing the vaccination strategy.
According to the study, 14 out of 20 hospital districts support the current vaccination program, at least in outline. Only in the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital districts and in the Länsi-Pohja hospital district in Lapland was there clear support for change.
Farewell to Malmi Airport
Helsingin Sanomat transports text and photo review (pay-walled) aviation history at Helsinki Malmi Airport, which saw its last flight last weekend.
The article continues after the picture.
Built in 1936, Malmi Airport has served both aviation enthusiasts and professionals over the years. It was Helsinki ‘s passenger airport until a new one was opened in the countryside of present – day Vantaa in 1952.
During the Second World War, Malmi Airport was used by both the Finnish Air Force and, for some time, the German Luftwaffe.
In recent years, Malmi has been Finland’s second busiest airport in terms of flight volumes after Helsinki-Vantaa. During the past year, the coronavirus pandemic became the busiest in the country again, as traffic at Helsinki-Vantaa slowed down.
The owner of the land, the City of Helsinki, has decided to build housing in the area. Part of the field and its buildings are protected.
A stormy weekend
Iltalehti tells readers that while Friday temperatures remain lower than normal during the year, the day should be mostly dry and sunny.
However, the weekend brings snow and wind.
On Saturday, strong winds are forecast to start bringing snow to the central and southern parts. By Saturday night or early Sunday morning, heavy snowfall can be expected in Kainuu, Northeast Finland and Southern Lapland, hitting the southern parts of the country with both snow and snow.
Part of the north and east are likely to suffer from high gusts of wind on Sunday.
Source: The Nordic Page