- 7,601 lab-confirmed infections as of Monday 10.8 (up by 17 from Sunday)
- 333 deaths linked to coronavirus as of Monday 10.8 (up by 2 since Friday 7.8)
- 5 people in hospital as of Monday 10.8 (up by 2 since Friday 7.8)
- 1 in intensive care as of Monday 10.8 (up by 1 since Friday 7.8)
10.8 15:42 Uncertainty over school guidelines as classes begin this week
As students return to classrooms across Finland this week, uncertainty remains regarding official guidelines on how teaching should be organised in the current coronavirus situation. The Finnish National Agency for Education issued its own coronavirus guidelines at the end of June, but the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Ministry of Education only published their own recommendations last week.
10.8 15:35 Finland reports two new Covid deaths
There were two coronavirus-related deaths recorded on Monday, bringing the country’s Covid-19 death toll to 333, according to the Institute for Health and Welfare THL.
The health agency said that a total five patients were receiving hospital care for treatment of Covid-19, an increase of two since Friday, when the statistics were last reported. One of the patients included in THL’s announcement on Monday was in an intensive care unit, while on Friday there were no patients on ICU wards.
Hospital districts across the country report Covid-related data on matters such as deaths and hospital occupancy three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
10.8 12:10 Employers don’t need to provide face masks for commuters
Employees in Finland should not expect employers to cover the cost of face masks worn on public transit to and from work. Legal experts told Yle workers must foot the bill for their commutes–including any potential face coverings–but could the state subsidise personal protective equipment (PPE)?
10.8 9:26 Schools preparing to reopen this week
One school principal told Swedish-language daily Hufvudstadsbladet that “half our day will be spent washing hands”, as schools across Finland prepare to reopen their doors again this week after the summer break.