The main story of Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday morning concerns The difference of opinion between Finland’s two top pandemic experts on how safe it is to travel to Estonia or other Baltic countries at the moment.
Pasi Pohjola The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health tells HS that the Finnish authorities have been monitoring the rapidly deteriorating pandemic situation in Estonia "carefully".
"I think it is worth considering whether Estonia is now the best place to travel. It is possible to transmit infections across borders, even if health security measures at the border work well," Pohjola said.
However, the director of health safety at the Public Health Agency THL Mika Salminen believes that fully vaccinated people can travel across the Baltic Sea.
"You should not travel anywhere without vaccination. But the vaccine can be trusted. It does not matter whether the vaccinated person is exposed to the virus in Finland or abroad," Salminen said, but added a warning that Covid restrictions may soon return to Finland’s southern neighbor.
Covid cases are also on the rise in Finland, HS notes, especially among unvaccinated people. The infection rate in those who have not yet received both doses is around 700 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last two weeks, while in the general population 137 cases
"It is unrealistic to think that the infection rates would start to fall permanently. On average, they will either remain at the same level or start to increase towards the winter, as we still have a large part of the population that may be exposed to coronavirus infection," Salminen told HS.
Anti-immigration speech by a Basic Finnish MP
Tampere-based Aamulehti continues monitor deposition from the controversial speech of the City Councilor and the Basic Finns Veikko Vallin in the Council debate on asylum seekers on Monday evening.
The morning paper had previously reported that many of the delegates present held Vallinโs comments "offensive and racist" the MP spoke about the harmful effects of immigration, listed crimes committed by foreigners and falsely claimed that the largest rental apartments in Tampere are given to immigrants.
President of the Council Ilmari Nurminen (SDP) told the newspaper that he has limited powers to intervene and added that the rules on what is allowed and what is not allowed to be said at council sessions should be reviewed.
"I had three lawyers present, and I asked if there had been a crime here so I could interrupt his speech. And their official position was that I could not interrupt that no obvious crime had taken place." Nurminen said.
City Council Lawyer Jouko Aarnio told Aamulehti that it was up to the authorities to decide whether or not to break Vall ‘s law.
"Whether the content of the speeches was perceived as offensive or inappropriate is a matter of discussion among team leaders about the rules of the game," Aarnio said.
Ireland clip Owl wings
Iltalehti Iltalehti describes how the disappointment of a Finnish women’s footballer 2-1 loss to Ireland in the women’s World Cup qualifiers in Group A at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium has collapsed "cold shower" beyond their qualifications.
In the meantime, Helsingin Sanomat write that Helmarit‘s – or Boreal Owls – the first competition game back at the home of Finnish football after an eight-year hiatus gathered an impressive audience of more than 5,000 spectators, which according to the magazine shows "the development of girls’ and women’s football in Finland".
"The majority of the audience were clearly young girls, which is also a good sign [Finnish] Football Association. More and more new fans and players are appearing in different parts of Finland," HS writes and adds that there are now 36,500 registered female players in the country, an all-time record.
The event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of organized women’s football in Finland, but the Irish team intended to be a party boy, not props.
The story continues after the picture.
Early paint Megan Connolly gave Ireland leadership, and though Adelina Engman leveled for Finland with an excellent half-volleyball, Ireland regained its advantage soon after Denise O’Sullivan bent down to nod the ball home from two yards.
Finland pushed its opponents to the end, but was unable to break Irelandโs determined defense. Despite the loss Helmarit will remain in second place in the block, but must now prepare for their next game against neighbors, table tops and the worldโs second-best team, Sweden, in Gothenburg on 25 November.
Source: The Nordic Page