Finland closes schools, declares state of emergency over coronavirus

[Adrenaliner 3,809]

Finland closes schools, declares state of emergency over coronavirus

Daycare centres are to stay open but parents were asked to keep their kids home if possible.

The Finnish government announced on Monday nationwide school closures in order to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Starting on Wednesday, schools will be shut until 13 April. Parents in jobs critical to the functioning of society who have children in grades 1-3 can send their children to specially-arranged care.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced the move at a press conference on Monday.

She said that daycare centres would remain open but that parents who can should keep their children at home.

Marin said that the government would bring emergency powers legislation before parliament on Tuesday. In a statement the government said that it had agreed with President Sauli Niinistö that emergency conditions prevailed in Finland because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The government also banned gatherings of more than ten people and closed museums, theatres, the national opera, libraries, mobile libraries, hobby facilities and swimming pools, youth clubs and other gathering points and recommended that third sector organisations and religious congregations do the same.

A handful of schools as well as universities and other institutions across the country had already closed down on-site operations at their own discretion, but Monday's announcement by the government was the first nationwide decision made on school closings.

The country’s Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported on Monday afternoon there were a total of 272 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Finland, the illness caused by a novel coronavirus infection. 

However, the number of those diagnosed with coronavirus in the country may be 20-30 times higher than has so far been confirmed, according to the Director-General of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) Markku Tervahauta.

 

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_closes_schools_declares_state_of_emergency_over_coronavirus/11260062

 

 

[Horny Chicken 10,935]

My grandmother (in Finland ) is in quarantine because she was exposed to a Covid-19 patient. After she met up with that person, she spent 5 days with my mum and little brother before the doctor called to tell her what had happened. It's been 7 days now and no one has shown any symptoms so we're pretty optimistic. 

[Lilmonzter 2,864]

One country in eu has it 

Suddenly it's everywhere 

[peto flex 2,641]

Should do this 1 week ago

[Grim 2,266]

Yeah everyone is kinda freaking out

I had six phone calls simultaneously when the decision was publicly announced

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Lilmonzter said:

One country in eu has it 

Suddenly it's everywhere 

Sweden is the only country with no closed schools with over 1000 cases & it sucks but Sweden is always like “Clothes after weather” which means they don’t care at all

[Hades 27,980]

Sweden and the UK are criminals. What are they waiting for?

[OpenHeartedMonster 1,079]

I live in Finland and I had literally been waiting and hoping for this kind of actions by the government! Honestly, I'm pretty satisfied with the decisions they made. Finland was lagging behind for over a week and finally they made strict regulations.

I was a little worried about my matriculation examination (it's like similar to A-levels in Britain) being cancelled but luckily they won't be cancelled and I will graduate!

[Economy 52,861]

In my Province too and a few other Provinces. The Federal Government hasn't done it Nationally yet tho

[Economy 52,861]

55 minutes ago, Hades said:

Sweden and the UK are criminals. What are they waiting for?

They may be trying to flatten the curve? I know the strategy involves the right phases at the right time

 

But I dunno how bad it is in UK and Sweden right now

[vyniildisk 12,689]

Mexico is not doing it yet

[lego 44,165]

 

Finland doing the right thing.