The mask recommendation will probably be changed during March, says Mika Salminen, Director of the Department of Health and Welfare’s Health Security Department.
Finland has survived the coronavirus epidemic and will continue to do so. That’s what he says Mika SalminenDirector of the Department of Health Safety from the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
“It’s starting to look more and more like this most acute phase is now in the package. Development costs that would go back to the starting box are starting to look unlikely, ”he says.
According to Salminen, the gaze could already be turned away from the corona. He highlights the situation in Ukraine, which has shed new light on things.
“Maybe now there are so many other worries that not all the energy is worth using for this.”
European few good news is currently about the coronary virus. Fewer infections are reported than before, and according to Salminen, many countries have already reached pre-omicron prevalence levels.
In Finland, the same development is most evident in the Helsinki metropolitan area, says Salminen. The rest of the country is a little behind.
However, Finland differs slightly from the rest of Europe. Especially outside the Helsinki metropolitan area, there are still many who have not yet been exposed to the virus, ie infected.
“In that sense, we still have some kind of setback during the spring,” says Salminen.
Everyone the message has not yet turned positive. For example, the Minister of Family and Basic Services Who is Linden (sd) said on Twitter on Tuesday that “this is by no means over” and listed hospitalization figures in a cautionary tone.
“The Minister is, of course, concerned about the adequacy of health care capacity, and rightly so,” Salminen commented.
At the end of last week, there were 316 coronary patients in specialist care, of whom about 40 per cent were in hospital primarily for other reasons. According to Salminen, hospitals are still reasonably busy, especially outside Helsinki and Uusimaa.
“The fact that there are also industrial struggles doesn’t really make it any easier.”
Caregivers Tehy and Super started on Tuesday a ban on overtime and shift work in the entire municipal sector. On Monday they left a strike warning to six hospital districts. Salminen emphasizes that he does not comment on the industrial action, but only states the situation.
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Finland has recently opened like a steal, without major declarations. According to Salminen, the removal of restrictions and the return to work may increase the number of infections, at least momentarily.
“On the other hand, this would be ahead anyway,” Salminen says.
“Now you have to understand that sooner or later everyone will face it and get infected. But almost everyone survives it with a mild illness. ”
Salminen, for example, takes Iceland, which has decided to remove all restrictions and remove the requirement for a coron passport from tourists. According to Salminen, Finland should do the same.
“After all, it makes no sense to demand it, at least among EU countries, because vaccination coverage is quite high compared to the rest of the world.”
About the opening Despite the pandemic, many feel the skin literally. THL still recommends the widespread use of face masks.
THL is currently considering when and how the recommendation should be modified. According to Salminen, decisions will be made during March.
“Maybe there’s no more talk of a recommendation at that point. But people are advised on the situations in which it might be wise to use it if it feels like it, ”says Salminen.
Some Finns can no longer use a face mask. How worried is Salminen about this?
“There’s no way I can now claim to be terribly worried about that. If you have been well vaccinated and there are no terrible risks in your immediate community, ”says Salminen.
In Salminen’s opinion, it is “a little too much demanded” that Finns be forever required to do small but harmful actions such as using a face mask.
Read more: Hus: The face mask recommendation is likely to continue for months to come
Salmisen According to Finland, Finland should be prepared for health care to withstand the increase in the corona burden in the autumn. He said the epidemic is likely to become seasonally recurring.
New restrictions would not be needed if there was more room for maneuver, he says.
“Maybe we’ve trimmed healthcare a little unnecessarily efficient.”
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Salminen does not seem very concerned about the new virus variants. They will come anyway, but he relies on the protection provided by vaccinations and illnesses against serious illness.
Finland is preparing to give additional vaccinations, especially to the elderly and at-risk groups, but continuous vaccination of the entire population is unlikely to continue.
Salminen does not recommend anyone to isolate themselves from their home.
“It makes no sense at all in terms of health, and especially mental health. Now it is only worth relying on the protection provided by the vaccine. ”
He wishes the Finns a little more patience. After this month, we’ll see if the turn for the better is permanent or if there will be a backlash in the epidemic, he says.
“By the summer, the situation will certainly be as normal as it can ever be in this situation,” says Salminen.
“However, when there is a war going on in Europe.”
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