9 die, 26 infected with coronavirus in Helsinki care centers

Nine people have died and 26 people infected with coronavirus among the residents of care services facilities in the City of Helsinki, said a press release.

This far, coronavirus cases have been identified in three of the city’s own facilities and three facilities of service providers contracted by the city.

Those residents who are judged to have been in danger of exposure are being kept separate from the rest of the facility’s residents, and their health is being monitored closely.

They are being cared for in their own rooms. Precautions are nevertheless being taken to ensure that these residents are safe at all times, and that they are not feeling lonely. The staffs are also staying in close contact with the residents’ loved ones.

The staffs are utilising personal protection equipment, e.g., facemasks and protective jackets, in their work with those who are infected. In addition, enhanced hand hygiene and disinfection regimes are being observed throughout the facility. The use of personal protection equipment in this situation complies with official guidelines issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The policy in Helsinki has been to provide coronavirus testing to residents and staffs of care facilities at a low threshold in order to discover infections at as early a stage as possible.

“Isolation measures can understandably inconvenience residents which raises concerns among their loved ones. We are trying to provide the safest possible care to our residents, despite everything,” said Seija Meripaasi, director of the City of Helsinki’s Hospital, Rehabilitation and Care Services Unit.