All incoming passengers to be tested at Helsinki Airport

Finland has decided to test all incoming passengers at Helsinki Airport from Friday in the backdrop of an increasing trend in the coronavirus outbreak.

The decision was taken following a recommendation made by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Thursday and the City of Vantaa and Finavia have already taken the necessary measures in this regard, said Finavia, the company that operates the country’s airports, in a press release.

Finavia’s Head of Airport Operation Jani Ceder said they had taken all the necessary measures at the airport to bring passengers to the coronavirus testing points as per the new guidelines issued by the health authority.

The decision has been implemented within a span of less than one day and the authority set up more testing points at the airport terminal and shifted the testing points to the gate area from entrance halls.

Earlier, the THL said that to prevent the spread of the new variant of COVID-19, officials will guide those arriving at entry points from the UK or South Africa to enhanced coronavirus tests and to quarantine.

The THL recommends that anyone who has been in the UK or South Africa on 7 December or thereafter should get tested for coronavirus immediately after arrival, even if they have no symptoms or have been tested before. Coronavirus tests are also recommended for those arriving from other foreign locations.

About 1,500 to 2,500 international passengers presently arrive at Helsinki Airport a day.