The Finnish authorities are considering changes to the country’s vaccination strategy, in which the areas most affected by the epidemic will be given priority once all risk groups have been vaccinated.
According to the current schedule, vaccines will be distributed evenly to the rest of the population once the three primary groups – health care workers, the elderly and people with an underlying health condition – have been vaccinated.
In recent months, the Helsinki and Turku regions have had a much higher infection rate than the rest of the country.
The Prime Minister spoke at a press conference on Thursday afternoon Sanna Marin (SDP) said the government attaches importance to virus risk groups as a top priority.
"The groups currently considered the most dangerous should be vaccinated in accordance with the vaccination program in force throughout the country," Marin said. "Once vaccinated, they can be targeted at the worst affected areas. The Department of Health and Welfare (THL) and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health are responsible for making the decision."
Law on strikes submitted to Parliament
At the same press conference, Marin also confirmed that on Thursday the government presented to Parliament a draft proposal for a temporary restriction of freedom of movement and the introduction of a mandatory face mask system in areas where the epidemic occurs "spreads rapidly and uncontrollably."
The proposed restrictions would apply only to the Helsinki metropolitan area and Turku, where the number of coronavirus infections has been highest. The measures would affect five cities: Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen and Turku. They have a population of nearly 1.4 million, or about a quarter of the countryโs population.
Parliament is expected to discuss the proposal on Friday, but it is unclear whether it could enter into force before the four-day Easter weekend.
Marin said the restrictions are aimed at reducing unnecessary social contacts, but not making ordinary life unreasonably difficult. Therefore, people can continue to perform essential tasks such as visiting grocery stores or the post office.
"I appeal to each of you; together we can reduce contacts as necessary. This means we shouldnโt invite a couple of friends to dinner or have childrenโs birthday parties …. Parties or unnecessary gatherings need to be suspended to make summer better for all of us," Marin said.
Salminen: A calm situation can get out of hand quickly
Speaking after the Prime Minister, Director of Health Security at THL Mika Salminen The Finnish authorities have closely monitored the situation in other countries, including Ireland and Portugal, where the relatively peaceful situation went out of control very quickly and jeopardized health care capacity.
"If the ICUs drown, then we are automatically too late," Salminen said, adding that THL estimates that the proposed restrictions will reduce social contacts by about 25 percent.
Source: The Nordic Page