Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare: Coronavirus test recommended for travelers arriving from the UK on or after 7 December, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not

Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommends that people travelling to Finland from the UK on or after 7 December 2020 should have themselves tested for the coronavirus even if they do not show symptoms of the disease. The aim of the testing is to ensure that a new strain of the virus does not spread in Finland through people who are infected but may be asymptomatic.

The recommendation to be tested for coronavirus also applies to those who have already been tested for the virus once or twice after coming to Finland from the UK.

The recommendation does not apply to persons who have been placed in quarantine or isolation on the orders of an epidemiologist. In such a case, please follow the epidemiologist's instructions.  

The coronavirus tests are conducted at the recommendation of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) to fight a generally hazardous communicable disease, and consequently they are free of charge for the person being tested, regardless of nationality. To make an appointment for a test, contact the coronavirus information service of your place of residence or a health centre in your area directly. Applications for a test cannot be made through Omaolo or the HUS Coronabot by persons with no symptoms.

The number of cases of coronavirus Covid-19 has increased sharply in the UK in recent weeks, despite actions taken in the country to restrict the spread. The new strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01) explains about 50 percent of the increase in the number of cases.

There is scant information about the characteristics of the new coronavirus strain, but the variant might be more communicable than the previous one, and therefore more easily spread. However, there is no indication that the new strain would cause more severe Covid-19 infections, or that it would have a higher mortality rate. As little information available now about the strain, the principle of caution is being exercised.

No new cases of the new Covid-19 virus strain have been detected in Finland yet. On 20 December 2020, following a statement issued by THL, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom decided to put an immediate stop to passenger flights from the UK to Finland.

Further information

Traficom: All passenger flights from Great Britain suspended for two weeks(Link to another website.)

The original article can be found on the website of the National Institute for Health and Welfare(Link to another website.)