600 take coronavirus test on ferries from Estonia

Helsinki offered all passengers on 12 ferries the opportunity to take a free coronavirus test from 15 to 17 January.

The ferries carried about 5,700 passengers from Estonia to Helsinki. Of them, 600 got tested, which is slightly more than 10%, said the City of Helsinki in a press release.

So far, one of the passengers has tested positive for COVID-19. The results of the tests done on Sunday have not been available until Tuesday.

The aim at the moment is for as many inbound ferry passengers as possible to take the voluntary coronavirus test. This is of paramount importance in terms of preventing the spread of the epidemic and new variants of the virus.

“We decided to offer guidance and testing opportunities aboard ferries because there we can reach passengers more effectively than in terminals”, said the city’s Health and Substance Abuse Services Director Leena Turpeinen.

“The experiences gained over the past weekend were encouraging. The onboard testing arrangements will be resumed next Friday and Sunday when there will be more commuters on the ferries.”

Among those tested over the weekend, 30 showed symptoms indicative of COVID-19.

“We would like to remind everyone to refrain from travelling in the event of even the most minor symptoms suggesting a coronavirus infection and instead to get tested without leaving the country,” added Turpeinen.