Image: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva

As Finland’s tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases mounts, most of the infected people, as well as those they have come into close contact with, have so far been told to self-isolate in order to try and stop the spread of the virus.

The strategy of containing patients in their own homes rather than in a hospital isolation unit has caused surprise and concern among some social media users who have wondered how authorities can ensure that infected people really do stay away from others if they are not being watched over in a clinic.

On 1 March 130 schoolchildren and their teachers from the Helsinki suburb of Viikki, who had come into contact with an infected child, were ordered to stay at home for almost two weeks, until what is thought to be the virus’ incubation period had passed.

Rumours subsequently began spreading, however, that some of the quarantined children were breaking the rules and had been spotted in a local supermarket. Health authorities investigated and found no hard evidence for the claims, and sought to reassure locals that the risk of further infections was “very low”.

Self-isolation does not mean staying indoors

Medical chief of Helsinki health centres Timo Lukkarinen told Ilta Sanomat that those quarantined are in fact still able to go outside.

“Walking the dog is allowed, for example,” Lukkarinen said, “but you must not go near anybody and have to maintain a distance of two metres from other people. Going inside anywhere is also off-limits, which naturally means you cannot go to a shop even if you were to stay away from everybody.”

Stiff punishments for rule-breakers

Under Finland’s public health laws, an infection specialist at a municipality or hospital district can order a person to be quarantined, either at home or at a hospital, if they contract or are suspected of contracting an infection that could justifiably be considered a danger to public health.

“If a person does not follow the decision and leaves the quarantine, they could be convicted of a health protection violation under Finland’s criminal code, and given a fine or sentenced to up to three months’ imprisonment,” Liisa Katajamäki from Finland’s Social Affairs and Health Ministry told Finnish media last week.

Quarantined kids’ parents still allowed to work

A question often posed to Finnish health authorities is why the family members of the quarantined schoolchildren were not also ordered to isolate themselves, but instead could continue going to work.

Unlike the children themselves, the parents had not been in direct contact with an infected person, and therefore are not deemed a risk.

“A person in quarantine but showing no symptoms is not infectious,” Finland’s national institute of health and welfare (THL) says on its website.

“Once somebody becomes infected, there is a delay before they can infect anybody else,” THL says. “Therefore there is no reason to impose restrictions on the close circle of an exposed but symptomless person.”

Similarly, people with no symptoms are not tested for the virus. If a person begins showing symptoms, they will be tested and, “if necessary, quarantine restrictions imposed on their close circle,” THL says.

However, as this is a new virus it is not yet known for sure whether it can be spread by asymptomatic people. The US Centers for Disease Control acknowledges that this "might be possible" but says that asymptomatic transmission is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Officials have also been taking steps to ensure that samples for coronavirus tests can be taken as quickly as possible, in a matter of minutes.

For example, a family can drive into the ambulance bay at Helsinki’s new Children’s Hospital and have samples taken without even getting out of the car.

New hotline launched

Last week health officials launched a hotline for people seeking information about the virus. Members of the public can call 0295 535 535 between 08.00 and 21.00 on a weekday and 09.00 and 15.00 on Saturdays.

However the number does not offer medical advice, for which people should contact their local health centre or out-of-hours number if they believe they may be infected with the virus, officials say.





EDIT 18.15 7 March: Added reference to US CDC comments on asymptomatic transmission.