Instructions to healthcare and social welfare services concerning the coronavirus
Recommendation to the employees and employers of healthcare and social welfare services in the coronavirus situation
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of Education and Culture issued a recommendation to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to protect professionals and persons at risk.
Guidelines for suspected corona infections
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has issued guidelines for suspected cases of coronavirus infection.
- Guidelines for suspected Infections of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 (thl.fi, in Finnish) NB: New instructions, especially on nursing homes, the link was updated April 8.
Prevention of coronavirus infections
In home care
- Instructions issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare for organisers and providers of home care (thl.fi, in Finnish)
In long-term care units
The instructions can be applied in social welfare units offering long-term care and assistance, for example, for elderly and disabled patients.
- Prevention of coronavirus infections in long-term care facilities (THL, in Finnish)
In oral healthcare
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health issued practical instructions to oral healthcare providers on how to prepare for the coronavirus outbreak in their clinic activities.
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health gives instructions to municipalities on home care services during the coronavirus outbreak
The instructions must be followed especially in the case of home care services for people over 70 years of age, those with disabilities or long-term illnesses and other risk groups. They also apply to home care services for children and young people at risk, where appropriate.
Freedom of movement in social welfare units may be restricted if necessary
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has issued instructions to social welfare units on how the Communicable Diseases Act and the Emergency Powers Act impact freedom of movement. Social welfare units comprise assisted homes for the elderly, housing units for persons with disabilities and substitute care in child welfare.
Laboratory tests
The COVID-19 sample is taken on the basis of a doctor’s referral, in consultation with a specialist in infectious diseases, if necessary. Several towns are using a specific laboratory test to determine the novel coronavirus in suspected cases.
- Laboratory tests for coronavirus COVID-19 (THL.fi, in Finnish)
Recording in the patient record
Healthcare services have been issued with instructions on recording a suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection in the patient records. There are now also instructions for recording the diagnosis data of persons exposed to the virus.
- Instructions for recording an infection with or exposure to the coronavirus (thl.fi, in Finnish) NB: New instructions, the link was updated April 1.
Official forms related to quarantine and isolation
- THL material bank (thl.fi)
Impact of the coronavirus on time limits of the care guarantee
The Government issued a decree on the care guarantee in municipalities. Based on the decree, a municipality may waive the time limits set in the Health Care Act when arranging non-urgent care due to the coronavirus out-break.
- Read more about the degree(stm.fi)
Temporary derogations from key employment laws in the healthcare and social welfare sector
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has issued instructions (stm.fi) on which persons employed in the healthcare and social welfare sector may be subject to temporary derogations from the provisions of the Annual Holidays Act, the Working Hours Act and the Employment Contracts Act. The Decree is in force until 13 May 2020.
More information
- Coronavirus - latest updates (thl.fi)