State of emergency declared – how it will affect Järvenpää

The Government stated last week that Finland will move to the second stage in the coronavirus pandemic and a state of emergency will enter into force. The state of emergency was officially declared today.

A shutdown period from 8 March until 28 March has been ordered in the regions where the coronavirus is in its spreading and acceleration stage.
The Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland (a.k.a AVI) declared last week stricter restrictions regarding gatherings and close contacts in customer premises and orders to close public premises in the regions where the pandemic is in its spreading and acceleration stage based on the Temporary Communicable Diseases Act (§ 58 d ja § 58 g). These changes will also affect the region of Joint Municipal Authority of Central Uusimaa (a.k.a. Keusote).

The goal of AVI’s decisions is to significantly limit close contacts in these regions and to prevent especially the rapidly spreading new variant of the virus.

Restrictions on gatherings of more than six people

According to the Temporary Communicable Diseases Act (§ 58 d), the number of people in public gatherings and public events must be limited from the previous ten people to six people. However, in customer premises the limit of people who are in close contact with each other is max. 10 people at a time. In outdoor premises the limit is 50 people.

A close contact means spending time with another person within under two meter distance over 15 minutes. Supervising close contacts is on premises owners and entrepreneurs’ responsibility and this requires a written plan. If these orders are not followed, AVI can first give a written warning to an entrepreneur and after this order the premises to be closed for two weeks.

§ 58 g in the Temporary Communicable Diseases Act, that entered into force on Friday 26 February, prescribes closing of customer premises from 1 March until 14 March. The goal of closing these premises is to decrease close contacts especially between adults.

Max. 10 people in close contact in customer premises

For example the following premises will be closed down in Järvenpää 2 March:

• indoor facilities used for team sports, group exercise, contact sports and other sports
• gyms and similar indoor exercising facilities
• public swimming pool, including changing rooms
• theatre and premises used for choir activities
• public lounges in shopping centres

However, facilities that are ordered to be closed down can still be used for organized free time activities for children who are born in 2008 or later. In this case, max. 10 people can reside in the premises at a time in addition to the staff. Instructions on arranged free time activities will be sent to the private owners of such facilities.

Early childhood education, basic education and upper secondary education

• Early childhood education will continue as contact teaching in Järvenpää during the shutdown according to the earlier instructions of state of emergency
  
• Primary schools will continue as contact teaching. Enhanced safety and hygiene regulations will be taken into account.
  
• Lower secondary schools will switch to distance teaching by 8 March at latest, except for students with special needs and students who are doing extended compulsory education or flexible basic education (JOPO).
  Distance teaching will last until 26 March. In order to prevent exposures to the coronavirus before switching to distance teaching, the students are required to wear facial masks during school days.
  
• Järvenpää Upper Secondary School has been giving distance teaching since 1 March. Distance teaching will continue until 4 April. Spring’s matriculation examinations will be held as planned, taking safety into consideration.
  
• Vocational schools switched to distance teaching 1 March.

Group activities for children born in 2008 or later

• Free time activities for children born in 2008 or later will be allowed indoors in small groups of max. 10 people. Close contacts should be avoided and 2 meter safety distances taken into account.
  
• Groups must not be mixed with each other.
  
• Clubs and associations will get further details from the city later. Masks should be worn in common premises and during transportations when possible.

Sport facilities, sport clubs and gyms

• All city’s team sports, group exercise and contact sport facilities, including any private facilities, will be fully closed from people who are born before 2008.
  
• Free time activity groups for children born in 2008 or later and groups of professional athletes with no more than 10 people are an exception.
  
• Järvenpää city’s indoor sports facilities can only be used for arranged free time activities for children born in 2008 or later, with special regards to safety instructions and principles from 2 March until 14 March.
  
• AVI’s decision (§ 58 g) from 26 February 2021 will be applied to private sports facilities. According to the decision, the owners must ensure that there are max. 10 people in the premises at a time and they must follow safety distances and not be in close contact with each other.

Institutes and education in arts

• At Central Uusimaa Institute for Music (fi. Keskisen Uudenmaan musiikkiopisto), group instruction for students born in 2008 or later will continue as contact teaching. Individual tutoring for older students and free time activity groups will switch to distance teaching.
  
• Järvenpää Institute (fi. Järvenpään Opisto) will continue as distance teaching and will suspend group activities for people born in 2007 and earlier.

Libraries and museums

• Borrowing and returning books on the spot at Järvenpää library will be possible with no close contacts, by following safety distances and good hygiene and by instructing customers. Digital services and materials are available 24/7.
  
• Järvenpää museums (art museum, Ahola and Suviranta) will be closed until 31 March. The art museum will continue to operate digitally (eg. paid virtual visits and guided tours).

Youth clubs

• Targeted, closed groups indoors will be suspended. Activities will continue on social media and online.

Proposal on restaurant closures

• The Government has submitted to the Parliament a proposal on the restaurant closures in the regions where the coronavirus is in its spreading and accelerating stage, including Järvenpää. We will follow how the Government’s proposal progresses and will act accordingly.
  
  Government’s announcement 25 February