The duration of visits will be extended in senior centres, service houses, nursing homes and Helsinki’s hospitals. A number of visitors can visit at the same time. The changes will take effect on Monday 19 April.
– The coronavirus situation in Helsinki is improving and the vaccination coverage of the elderly is at a good level. This allows changes to be made to the visiting instructions, says Laura Pikkarainen, Helsinki City Hospital’s Medical Director.
– The risk of infection is not yet completely over. That is why it is very important that all visitors closely follow the protection and visiting instructions and agree on visits in advance, Pikkarainen emphasizes.
Residents and patients can be visited by guests once a day. The visits can take place either indoors or outdoors.
Visits at Helsinki’s hospitals
Starting on 19 April, visits by loved ones to patients treated in Helsinki’s hospitals can last 30 minutes. The patient can be visited indoors by two people at the same time.
Outdoor visits are also possible. For outdoor visits, there can be a maximum of five visitors at a time. The visit may last up to one hour.
Visiting senior centres, service houses and nursing homes
Visits of relatives and loved ones to senior centres and service houses may last one hour, starting on 19 April. The time limit is the same for both outdoor and indoor visits.
A resident can be visited by two visitors at a time when indoors. There can be five outdoor visitors.
– Now that we are moving towards spring, we hope that relatives and loved ones will prefer outdoor visits as much as possible. We also hope that Mother's Day visits will, primarily, take place outdoors, says Maritta Haavisto, Service district director.
Updated visiting instructions can be found on the city’s website.
Picture: Sakari Röyskö