The Director-General of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Markku Tervahauta, appeared in a nationally-broadcast press conference on Friday. He advised the public about how to slow the spread of the new coronavirus – but appeared to some viewers to be ignoring his own advice.

“In my opinion, I don’t have any upper respiratory tract infection symptoms at the moment but of course I will go and get myself tested if such symptoms start to appear,” he said with a slight smile.

Tervahauta appeared to be somewhat unwell, sneezing several times during the press conference.

“I’m a bit sweaty and sniffly but I don’t have coronavirus or acute upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, so don’t worry,” he said toward the beginning of the event.

Tervahauta repeatedly blew his nose and wiped his face with the same handkerchief during the event, and also held the microphone with the cloth.

A THL representative said that Tervahauta would be tested and that the agency would post a video showing that later.

Mea culpa for "showing a poor example"

During the press conference, Tervahauta stressed that stopping the spread of the virus by measures such as staying home when ill was “a shared mission for the whole society”.

“If people do not act according to the instructions that have been given, they will not be effective,” he said.

Tervahauta later apologised on Twitter for his "weak appearance and for showing a poor example". He said this showed "how difficult it is to follow hygiene instructions and to change one’s own behaviour".

According to advice on the THL site, you should "cover your nose and mouth with tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of used tissue into a bin. If you don’t have a tissue, cough into your upper sleeve."