The Covid-19 situ­ation within the South Karelia Social and Health Care District (Eksote)

Join the efforts to beat the coronavirus a​nd take the vaccine. Each vaccin­a­tion takes us closer to the end of the pandemic. Read more here!

Foreign citizens to be vaccin­ated in Finland

An mRNA vaccine can be admin­istered to persons who live in Finland or will stay in Finland for a lengthy period of time, when they have not previ­ously received any COVID-19 vaccin­a­tions or have received 1–2 vaccin­a­tions abroad (e.g., an mRNA vaccine or Sputnik).

• A lengthy period of time means: the person will stay in the Eksote area for several months or will visit the region regu­larly (almost weekly or monthly) or can be shown to own a prop­erty in the region. Tour­ists will not be vaccinated.
• Transit trav­elers (persons trav­el­ling through Finland) will not be vaccinated.
• The person to be vaccin­ated must have a Finnish personal iden­tity code or a temporary personal iden­tity code.
• If the person does not have a Finnish personal iden­tity code, he or she must visit the closest health­care or well being centre to receive a temporary personal iden­tity code. A pass­port and an insur­ance certi­ficate or a European Health Insur­ance Card is required.
• The person to be vaccin­ated must present an offi­cial docu­ment of any previ­ously received vaccin­a­tions at the vaccin­a­tion point.
• Persons who have received three vaccin­a­tions abroad can be admin­istered a fourth vaccin­a­tion if they have a severe immune defi­ciency (a docu­ment must be presented of the condi­tion) or is over 80 years old or is an elderly person under 80 years of age whose health and func­tional capa­city have reduced so that even a minor infec­tion could lead to hospitalisation. 

• Finnish Insti­tute for health and welfare/English​
• Coronavirus inform­a­tion in different languages (THL)

Covid-19 general information

The symp­toms of the coronavirus disease include a head­ache, changes in the sense of taste and smell, a runny or congested nose, a cough, short­ness of breath, lack of energy or tired­ness, muscle pain, a sore or rough ​throat, a fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Contact your occu­pa­tional health­care service provider if you develop symp­toms, espe­cially if you have not been vaccin­ated against COVID-19.

Eksote’s coronavirus vaccin­a­tion advising and appoint­ment service is open from Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. To contact the service, please call +358 5 352 2355.

If you suspect that you have contracted COVID-19 or have become exposed to COVID-19:

1) Fill in an elec­tronic symp­toms assess­ment in the Omaolo service or call a well­being and health­care centre (Mon-Fri +358 5 352 7260 at 7:00–20:00) or, outside office hours, the Medical Helpline 116 117 (press 2, if your matter concerns COVID-19).

2) From the Omaolo service, you will be directed to Eksote’s COVID-19 test booking service, where required, or a nurse will assess your need to see a doctor and/or have your­self tested for COVID-19 on the phone.

3) The COVID-19 test should be taken 1–2 days from the moment the symp­toms started. An appoint­ment is required for the testing.

Persons whose symp­toms are mild and have received two doses of the vaccine no longer need to have them­selves tested for COVID-19, unless they belong to a group that must still be tested.

Also remember the basic instruc­tions to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Ensure good hand and coughing hygiene.
• Wearing a mask is recommended.
• Avoid large gatherings.

To contact Eksote and book a COVID-19 test 

You can either fill in an elec­tronic symp­toms assess­ment and book a COVID-19 test appoint­ment through the Omaolo service or call the well­being and/or health­care centre nearest to you (+358 5 352 7260 7:00–20:00 or, outside office hours, the Medical Helpline 116 117 (press 1, if your matter concerns COVID-19)) to have your­self tested for COVID-19. A nurse will assess your need to see a doctor and/or have your­self tested for COVID-19 on the phone. The COVID-19 test should be taken 1–2 days from the moment the symp­toms started.

The Omaolo service can be used to book a COVID-19 test for adults and under 15-year-old chil­dren, when a guardian uses the service on their behalf.

Our COVID-19 testing points are subject to an appoint­ment. To avoid over­crowding and queuing, please arrive to the test promptly at the booked time – do not arrive early.

In Lappeen­ranta, the testing point is located in a temporary testing facility in front of the lower parking area of the Armila health­care centre. Follow the sign­posts!
In Imatra, the testing point is located inside the Honka­harju health­care centre; follow the signposts.

A face mask must be worn and hygiene instruc­tions followed at the testing point. There are masks avail­able in the vesti­bule of the testing point, if you do not have one with you.

The results of the COVID-19 test: If your COVID-19 test result is negative, you will be informed of this by an auto­mated text message roughly two days after the test. The same text will be sent to all persons, whose test result is negative and whose tele­phone number has been entered into the patient inform­a­tion system.

If the test result is positive, you will receive a phone call.

Have your­self vaccinated!

You can have your­self vaccin­ated against COVID-19 in Lappeen­ranta or Imatra without an appoint­ment. Altern­at­ively, you can book a time by calling +358 5 352 2355 (the service is provided in Finnish and in English) or, if you have the creden­tials of a Finnish bank, by using the elec­tronic service (https://oma.hyvis.fi/login).

Persons who are 16 years old or younger can book an appoint­ment by calling +358 5 352 2355 or by arriving at a vaccin­a­tion point without an appointment.

Vaccin­a­tions are admin­istered without an appoint­ment as follows:

• IsoKristiina in Lappeen­ranta: on week­days 9:00–14:30.
• Tori­Gal­leria in Imatra: on week­days at 13:00–16:00

Remember to bring a Finnish ID or a temporary personal iden­tity code, if you have one, with you.

Covid-19 press releases in English

The number of COVID-19 cases remains at an evenly high level throughout South Karelia (April 5, 2022)

• The COVID-19 epidemic continues in South Karelia – the strain on the hospital is reas­on­ably high and the recom­mend­a­tion to wear a mask and the remote working and confer­en­cing recom­mend­a­tion remain valid in the region
• COVID-19 has continued to spread rapidly in South Karelia. The number of people admitted to hospital is high.
• The COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet, even though the restric­tions are being lifted.
• In South Karelia, the number of new COVID-19 cases confirmed after Christmas is higher than the combined total of cases in the preceding months
• It is recom­mended that all COVID-19 restric­tions and recom­mend­a­tions that are currently valid in South Karelia be extended until 20 February 2022

Se​rvices provided by Eksote

Eksote has reduced non-urgent help in all health care- and social services areas. 
Social- and health care services will primarily be contacted by phone.
Eksote reminds that it is not allowed to go to any appoint­ment or recep­tion, if you feel to have any signs of flu of symp­toms of infection. 

Links

Tietoa koronavir­uk­s­esta eri kielillä / Coronavirus inform­a­tion in different languages (HUS)​

Maahan­muut­tajat tarvit­sevat tietoa koronavir­uk­s­esta / Immig­rants need inform­a­tion regarding the Coronavirus (HUS)​​

This page has links to reli­able inform­a­tion released by Finnish author­ities on coronavirus and its effects in Finland. (InfoFin­land)