About coronavirus

Latest updates

Social and health services

6.4.2020: The city will start calling senior citizens on Monday 6 April
11.4.2020: Healthcare services at Easter 10 April -13 April, 2020
31.3.2020: City of Vaasa opens mental health crisis helpline on 1 April
24.3.2020: Social services opens a chat service for children and families
20.3.2020: Corona info and symptom assessment on the city’s website
18.3.2020: Changes in the activities of health stations, clinics, school health care and dental care
18.3.2020: Changes at Vaasa health centres due to coronavirus

Early childhood education, schools and institutes

6.4.2020: City of Vaasa grants daycare fee refunds until 31 May
31.3.2020: Schools, libraries, sports facilities and museums closed until 13 May
31.3.2020: Vaasa begins distributing school meals to distance learning pupils
26.3.2020: Morning and afternoon activity fee concessions
24..3.2020: Almost 98% of Vaasa’s students in basic comprehensive education participate in distance learning
20.3.2020: All pupils in grades 1-3 can return to face-to-face classroom teaching – however, the government recommends distance learning
19.3.2020: City of Vaasa daycare fee concessions – Preschool children will receive a home study kit every day
16.3.2020: The City of Vaasa’s basic comprehensive schools, upper-secondary schools and institutes switch to distance learning – early childhood education continues as normal

Public transport

30.3.2020: Summer bus timetables already in use from 1 April

Sport services and hobby activities

31.3.2020: Schools, libraries, sports facilities and museums closed until 13 May
24.3.2020: Avoid congested outdoor activity sites
15.3.2020: Indoor pool and indoor sports facilities will be closing and group sports classes of sports associations will be suspended
13.3.2020: Recommendation that all hobby and leisure activities involving several people be discontinued

Libraries, culture and events

6.4.2020: The museums’ summer exhibitions will be postponed until next year
31.3.2020: Schools, libraries, sports facilities and museums closed until 13 May
30.3.2020: Cultural tips for extraordinary times
23.3.2020: Vaasa Choir Festival will not be held this spring
13.3.2020: Spring public events organized by the City of Vaasa cancelled due to coronavirus

Other

27.3.2020 The City of Vaasa provides help and advice
20.3.2020 Corona pandemic shakes businesses – “Flexibility and cooperation now needed by everyone”
18.3.2020: Opening hours of Citizen Services and Welcome Office 18 March–13 May 2020
9.3.2020: The City of Vaasa is monitoring the coronavirus situation
4.3.2020: What to do if a coronavirus infection is suspected?

Prevent infection

The virus can be transmitted in close contact from person to person through droplet transmission during coughing and sneezing, and by contact from surfaces via hands. In general, avoid close contact with other people, as most sufferers are either completely asymptomatic or mild.

Maintain good hand hygiene. Don´t touch the eyes, nose or mouth. Use an alcoholic hand sanitiser.

Keep an amount of flu medication at home. Cough and sneeze into a disposable tissue and immediately place it in a bin. If you don´t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow.

When arriving from abroad, arrange an absence (14 days recommended) with your work, school or daycare centre.

Older people and those with underlying conditions are particularly susceptible to coronavirus. Seasonal influenza is also circulating in Finland at present, with symptoms very similar to those of coronavirus infection.

For general advice on coronavirus, consult the national coronavirus hotline on 0295 535 535.

Stay home if you have a runny or stuffy nose

If you have mild symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a runny or stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, body aches and pains or fever, rest and stay at home. As per THL’s advice: Stay at home until symptoms are over.

Don´t go to work or school when sick or take sick children to daycare centres or grandparents.

Call your healthcare provider if you have serious symptoms

If you have severe respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath or feeling under the weather, CALL your local health centre Mon -Thurs 8 am – 4 pm and Fri 8 am – 2:15 pm to seek advice. You can get further instructions by phone from the health centre. Don´t come to the health centre to infect others.

Gerby Health Centre, tel. 06 325 1711
Kirkkopuistikko Health Centre, tel. 06 325 1666
Ristinummi Health Centre, tel. 06 325 1691
Tammikaivo Health Centre,  tel. 06 325 1703 or 06 325 1770
Vähäkyrö Health Centre, tel. 06 325 8500

Other times you can call the national emergency number 116 117. NOTE! This number is for people with severe symptoms only.

Treatment of coronavirus infections

The testing of patients showing mild symptoms and those returning from travel should only be taken at the discretion of the doctor. Asymptomatic cases are not tested.

Infections are diagnosed at Vaasa Central Hospital, which decides on the patient’s place of treatment. The infected person is placed in home quarantine unless they need hospital treatment. People in close contact with the infected person are also placed in home quarantine for two weeks. This prevents the virus from spreading. Home quarantine is decided by the doctors of the Vaasa Hospital District.

The guardian of a child under the age of 16 who is assigned to home quarantine stays at home to care for the child. A sickness allowance is given for periods of quarantine due to infectious disease. More information can be found on Kela’s website.

During the home quarantine you must stay at home. You cannot go shopping or go out for hobbies etc.

Information on educational activity is given through Wilma

The education sector will monitor the situation and the advice given by the health authorities. In schools and early childhood education centres, preventive activities, such as careful hand washing and hygiene have been encouraged.

The guardians of schoolchildren and early childhood children will be informed on developments through Wilma and vaasa.fi.

Monitor coronavirus updates

Residents are also advised to follow the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) bulletins and follow THL guidelines. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare website.

Vaasa Hospital District

Twitter: @THLorg

Coronavirus Information in Finnish Sign Language (THL)

Coronavirus – Latest Updates (THL)

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Updated 16.3.2020.