Tourists, Finns from China urged to phone hospital

The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Wednesday updated its guidelines for people arriving in Finland from the coronavirus epidemic areas in China urging them to communicate with the local health complex over phone, if symptoms of a sudden respiratory tract infection are found.

“Always contact the emergency clinic of the local hospital or health centre by phone first. You will receive instructions on how to seek treatment,” said the guidelines, adding that rapid identification of cases is important so that measures can be taken to prevent other people from contracting the disease.

THL in an official press release said, the increase in the number of cases in other provinces of China has been taken into account in THL’s new guidelines.

If tourists and Finns who have travelled to the epidemic area experience sudden symptoms of a respiratory tract infection such as fever, cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of leaving the region were urged to follow the guidelines.

It asked them to cover mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing and to put the used handkerchief in the rubbish bin immediately.

If the person doesn't have a handkerchief, cough or sneeze onto the upper part of the arm of his or her sweater, not into hands.

These guidelines are available on the THL website in Finnish, Swedish, English and Chinese.

In December 2019, cases of pneumonia were diagnosed in China, and a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has been identified as the cause. New cases have been recorded in all provinces of China, also outside the original epidemic area of the City of Wuhan and the Province of Hubei.

Travel from Hubei has seen a drastic decrease because of restrictive measures taken by the Chinese government. International air connections to China have also decreased, which significantly reduces the number of Chinese passengers arriving in Finland.

THL is coordinating and monitoring the situation together with ECDC and WHO, the press release added.