In its 4 February 2021 meeting, the Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group decided that capital area upper secondary education would continue remote teaching until 28 February.
Extending the duration of distance learning will prevent the spread of the epidemic and its variants, as well as mitigate the risk of overburdening the area’s social and healthcare services. The group will extend the current recommendations and restrictions again after they expire, if necessary.
The coronavirus coordination group recognizes the potential negative effects of long-term remote teaching on young people’s wellbeing and learning. This is why the group has asked the education departments of the member cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa to jointly explore different ways in-person instruction could be arranged safely, along with hybrid teaching options, and other means of support for students whose welfare or school performance has suffered from the prolonged distance learning.
The Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group is continuously monitoring the epidemic situation. As the situation changes, the group is prepared to re-evaluate its decisions quickly. The group will meet on 18 February 2021 to discuss the continuation of the current recommendations and restrictions.
Current recommendations and restrictions, decided earlier by the coordination group
Existing recommendations and restrictions from the Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group on public and private events, the use of public premises, and upper secondary education will remain valid until 28 February 2021. Decisions are based on an assessment of the epidemiological situation and an overall appraisal. The city of Kauniainen joins the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa in adhering to the group’s recommendations and restrictions.
Public events
All indoor and outdoor public events and meetings have been temporarily suspended. However, absolutely essential public events and meetings may be arranged with a maximum of 10 participants, if their safety can be guaranteed in compliance with instructions issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on 21 September 2020.
Statutory shareholder and association meetings are examples of these kinds of essential events, although these too should strive to make use of teleconferencing tools whenever possible.
This restriction is valid until 28 February 2021. The Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland will decide on 27 February if this restriction will be extended.
Private events
The Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group continues to strongly recommend that everyone limit their close contacts to members of the same household or those considered as close as household members. Other kinds of private gatherings or meetings with extended family are not recommended. Guests at a funeral or a memorial service should be restricted to only a small group of close relatives.
This recommendation is valid until 28 February 2021.
Public premises
All customer spaces open to the public will remain closed, with the exception of children’s and young people’s leisure activities. This includes all municipal cultural centres, museums and youth facilities. The operations of adult education centres will continue to be suspended. Korkeasaari Zoo will stay closed.
The facilities used for providing healthcare and social services, early childhood education, comprehensive education and essential upper secondary education will remain open. Services such as the essential use of customer computers in libraries and the distribution of face masks to those in need will continue. The cities have defined the facilities offering essential services, which will be kept open on a limited basis, with due consideration for health and safety. Limited services continue to be available at area libraries.
The coordination group continues to strongly recommend that private operators adopt the same recommendations and restrictions at their sports and leisure facilities.
These recommendations and restrictions are valid until 28 February 2021.
Upper secondary education
General upper secondary schools will continue to arrange remote teaching until 28 February 2021.
Distance learning will likewise continue in vocational education until 28 February 2021. During this time, students will be provided with opportunities to complete degrees and qualifications in part or in whole in different learning environments, as required (online, on-site and at the workplace).
Learning institutions will still provide face-to-face instruction that is deemed essential. For example, contact teaching will be provided to students with disabilities that are receiving special needs education and to students who need individual support for various reasons.
Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group prepares and coordinates local decision-making
The cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, THL, the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), and the Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland established the Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group on 10 September 2020. In line with a regional operating model devised by Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the group aims to strengthen the formation of a common situational assessment and to coordinate and prepare local and regional measures.
The group consists of top management from each member organisation and is responsible for the preparation and coordination of decision-making based on a shared assessment of the situation. Each member makes decisions independently, within its own sphere of authority. The group further intensifies the close metropolitan area collaboration that has continued throughout the coronavirus crisis. The City of Helsinki is responsible for organising the group’s operations.
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Coronavirus updates from Helsinki
Metropolitan Area coronavirus coordination group
Coronavirus COVID-19 – Latest Updates(Link leads to external service)
Photo: Mikael Lindén
