HELSINKI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- As the number of the COVID-19 cases kept increasing in Finland, the Finnish government on Thursday gave a series of new guidelines, urging local authorities to strengthen their measures. Talking to the media, Prime Minister Sanna Marin described the decisions as "an effort to create mental momentum".
The guidelines are based on both national and regional levels, according to a press release issued by the government. In consideration of the widespread of the COVID-19 across the country, the government recommends remote working as widely as possible, in both public and private sector. Workplaces should avoid close contacts and other risk factors.
The government's recommendations for the regions have been divided according to the epidemic situations.
In districts where the epidemic is in the acceleration stage, the number of participants at private meetings should be restricted to 20 and audiences in public meetings reduced to a half, and university level education should switch to distant learning.
In areas where the COVID-19 is spreading, those of private meetings should be restricted to ten and public events prohibited, and the distant learning ruling would also include secondary education.
According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), seven of the 21 health districts are now in the phase of acceleration, including the capital region of Helsinki, and one has reached the spreading phase.
Marin elaborated that while in the spring the cabinet could issue wide ranging decrees with emergency laws activated, the standard infectious ailments laws applied now stipulate rights of restriction measures to local municipalities and the 21 health districts throughout Finland. She noted that the cabinet could only determine restaurant opening hours and border controls.
Annika Saarikko, Minister of Science and Culture, claimed at a press conference that regional implementation is a better option than country-wide measures in some respects.
However, Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, said she is worried "that not all districts" had taken sufficient decisions so far.
According to the THL, as of Thursday afternoon, Finland has confirmed a total of 12,944 COVID-19 infections, of which the number of new cases was 241. The death toll reached 350, four deaths reported in the past 24 hours. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and THL announced that the number of new infections has increased significantly in Finland recently. The number of patients in hospital care has more than doubled since the end of September.
Globally, to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States, are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines. Enditem
