Rauma executive Covid-team gathered on Monday 17 January to discuss the recommendations given by the Satakunta regional infectious disease prevention team on Friday 14 January. Directions on when to get tested for Covid-19 are changing essentially in Rauma. There is no need to get tested with mild symptoms. Contacts must still be avoided for five days with symptoms, even if the home test is negative.
– The number of cases is still rising in Rauma. In addition to diagnosed infections there are more cases among the population because the omicron variant is mild on some of the infected. Due to the large number of infections, Rauma healthcare services contact tracing is unable to contact everyone who tests positive and determine the exposed in time, senior physician Hannu Nordqvist says.
Primarily healthy individuals do not need to contact the healthcare services or go to a covid-test if general health is good and respiratory symptoms are mild. Contacts outside the family should be avoided for at least five days.
– An asymptomatic child can only go to school or kindergarten five days after the onset of covid symptoms in a family member, Nordqvist says.
Exposed people should work from home if possible. If it is not possible, the person should agree on procedures with their employer. Going to work with no symptoms is possible but a face mask should be used and close contacts avoided. In accordance to the guidelines of the regional team, the City of Rauma recommends employers to accept five days of sick leave and working from home to those exposed. Rauma has a broad recommendation for working from home.
Instructions for Satakunta and regional recommendations are available on the Satasairaala website. The instructions tell more about what to do if you suspect a Covid-infection. For example, social and healthcare workers, people at risk and pregnant women are still advised to go to a Covid-test if they experience symptoms or are exposed to the virus.
According to new instructions from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare the times for quarantine and isolation can be shortened to five days. The instructions apply to people with mild symptoms or no symptoms with a confirmed infection, of exposed people with one or two doses of the vaccine. Quarantine and isolation orders given earlier will not be changed however.
People in Rauma are still recommended to take care of their vaccination status and to follow instructions about safe distances and face mask use for everyone over 10 years of age.