Corona epidemic THL’s CEO Markku Tervahauta: Krista Kiuru’s school quarantine stock was not based on THL’s statement

Policy|Corona epidemic

Health and the Director General of the Department of Welfare (THL) Markku Tervahauta says THL did not comment on whether the quarantine policy for schools should be tightened at Friday’s meeting of the government’s coronation ministerial working group, as the Minister for Family and Basic Services Krista Kiuru (sd) on Friday night suggested.

“No,” Tervahauta answers the question of whether Kiuru’s statement on quarantine was based on THL’s statement.

Lark said Friday night on the steps of the Estate Housethat the entire school class could be quarantined if one student is infected.

The announcement sparked widespread discussion and also criticism over the weekend.

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In practice, the implementation of Kiuru ‘s proposal seems uncertain at all, as Helsinki announced on Mondaythat, for example, those exposed in the family, workplace, schools and early childhood education are no longer quarantined under the Communicable Diseases Act. The operating model will also be extended to other municipalities in Uusimaa.

Kiuru mentioned this when he listed how health security in schools is going to be improved.

“Its main content is related to the fact that quarantines will be carried out in the whole classroom in the future and this must be taken care of regionally so that young people and children can be safe,” Kiuru stated.

“At ECDC [Euroopan tautienehkäisy- ja -valvontakeskus] there is a fairly strict line to quarantine the entire school class after children have been exposed to a single case of corona. This has been discussed in the kingdom for a long time, but this state of mind is now being demonstrated as part of health security measures, ”Kiuru continued when asked.

Ministerial Working Group the bulletin that evening does not mention it so sharply. According to HS, the meeting focused on tightening up the quarantine regulations, but not in great detail, as the guidance is provided by the THL in any case.

“Other measures to increase school health security include enhanced masking and quarantine practices and exceptional teaching arrangements in the event of a difficult regional epidemic, such as hybrid teaching or, where appropriate, localized distance learning.” the bulletin reads.

Quarantines are not decided by the government but by doctors responsible for infectious diseases.

Tar grave says THL has been preparing for a renewal of the quarantine recommendation for a long time. The issue has also been discussed with STM. New guidelines may be published early this week.

“Omikron is very contagious, so this needs to be updated.”

According to him, THL has discussed whether it is appropriate to quarantine only those in nearby consoles or the entire class if one or more of the class is infected.

Tar Grave says that the version he last saw could be seen by someone as a tightening of school quarantine. However, the forthcoming proposal is at least not one in line with Kiuru’s view.

Has THL indicated in its negotiations with STM, for example, that in the future the whole class will be quarantined if one student is infected?

“I haven’t been in a conversation like this, but maybe someone else from us has been. I have no idea that we were somehow told that this was all right. ”

Tar Grave says he did not take a firm stand on the quarantine discussion at a board meeting because he was not asked to do so.

“Speeches are used when questions are asked, and it must be remembered that quarantine regulations are not issued by us or the government.”

Was Kiuru’s view more of a politician’s view of quarantine?

“It was at least a view that represented the will of the political decision-maker, and as such should be understood and accepted. But how it is implemented on the part of the authority is different, ”says Tervahauta.

“He has shared his own interpretation of what the group has said about this.”

So Kiuru’s statement was not based on THL’s statement?

“No.”

Quarantines The situation changed significantly on Monday, when Helsinki announced that it would practically end its quarantine.

The city announced that those exposed in families, workplaces, schools and early childhood education, for example, will no longer be quarantined under the Communicable Diseases Act.

Those exposed to the coronavirus are recommended to act independently to reduce the risk of infection.

The omicron transformation is now spreading at such a rate that the practical significance of an official quarantine or isolation decision is currently, according to the city, mainly that the employer can be paid an infectious disease daily allowance.