New coronavirus instructions for schools 7 February 2022

The rules regarding infection control and isolation practice in the wellbeing services region will be updated in accordance with the current coronavirus situation and national recommendations.

The isolation period of a person with a coronavirus infection is reduced from 10 days to 5 days. The first day is counted from the onset of symptoms.

In future, infection tracking will be centralised to focus on units and employees working within social welfare and healthcare services (SOTE). Accordingly, group quarantines are to be abandoned in schools and daycare centres in exposure situations. In future, there will be no official quarantine measures for groups, even if there are several cases in the same group. The principle is that healthy asymptomatic children and young people go to school, only staying home if they have symptoms.

However, guardians will continue to be notified through Wilma if there are coronavirus cases in the groups.

In future, official isolation decisions will be written to those who test positive in a PCR test at their request. If the person is still symptomatic 5 days after becoming ill, it is recommended that they continue to isolate and only return to normal life, school, or work when they are asymptomatic.

As with other viral infections, the coronavirus may cause a mild irritating cough, smell / taste changes and tiredness for a longer period of time. There is no need to continue isolation because of these mild symptoms if the condition is otherwise good.

Family members affected by home exposures to a patient are recommended to remain in voluntary quarantine for 5 days, but no official quarantine decisions are made for those who are not working within social welfare and healthcare (SOTE).

We follow the guideline issued by the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL): if it is not possible to arrange voluntary quarantine for an asymptomatic family member, the asymptomatic family member may go to work and the children to school / daycare during the exposure period. The principle is that children are allowed to go to school / daycare in good health.

These changes will take effect on 7 February. Previously imposed quarantines will not be lifted retrospectively.

Note! Meal packages are no longer distributed to pupils since an official quarantine certificate is required for the meal package. In individual coronavirus cases, proceed as in the case of normal sick leave.