The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has further relaxed recommendations for the use of face shields to emphasize different levels of risk and individual judgment.
At its weekly Covid press conference on Thursday, THL announced that the new recommendations recommend that people consider using masks in high-risk situations, especially if they are unvaccinated.
In practice, this means using the mask in enclosed public spaces where people are close to each other, and especially in public transport.
The recommendation applies to those 16 years of age and older, according to the THL chief physician Otto Helve the risk of infection in schools is very low.
The number of cases rose slightly last week
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and THL said at a press conference on Thursday that the decline in the number of cases has stopped.
"The long downtrend is over and there was a small upswing" said Pasi Pohjola, Director of Covid-19 Affairs at the Ministry.
The positivity rate for Covid test samples was 3.4 percent last week, up from 2.9 percent the previous day. However, the figures are not comparable due to changes in testing strategy, and mild cases among vaccinees are unlikely to result in testing.
Wastewater tests have also revealed an increase in the number of Covid cases in Espoo, Helsinki and Kuopio.
The Covid wards last week cared for 81 people, 25 of whom were in intensive care. By Thursday night, 1,072 pandemic-related deaths had been recorded in the Covid-related deaths register.
Most of those in Covid Hospital are completely unvaccinated.
"Get the vaccinations available and make sure you get both doses," urged Helve.
Pohjola said it is likely that hospitals will continue similar treatment for Covid patients for some time to come. Reducing the workload of healthcare providers would require much greater vaccination coverage and a reduction in the number of cases.
70 percent of those vaccinated
More than 70.2 percent of Finnish people over the age of 12 have now received both doses of the approved Covid vaccine.
"Vaccine coverage rose by more than 70% today, but it is still far from the target" said Helve.
Helve said it is not yet possible to remove the remaining Covid restrictions.
"It is good to remember that hospitals still have a burden and there are many people who have not been vaccinated," said the doctor. "If the disease spreads, a large portion of the population will be vulnerable. Instructions for washing hands and staying home if the disease is not quickly eradicated."
Mask recommendations will be re-evaluated when 80 percent of those over 12 years of age are fully vaccinated. However, the government will decide on restrictions on bars and restaurants.
Source: The Nordic Page