The Chinese New Year will be celebrated in Helsinki again on Monday, 31 January, when the year of the Ox turns into the year of the Tiger. In addition to the festive programme that will be available online, people can admire numerous ice sculptures around the city.

People age 60 or older and those belonging to at-risk groups 1 and 2 can now receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment at vaccination points. Those belonging to these groups may receive a third dose after at least 3 months have elapsed after their second dose. The person to be vaccinated must be over 18 years of age.

The omicron variant is spreading faster than previous variants of the coronavirus, and the virus can currently be contracted practically anywhere. Infection tracking is no longer an effective method of restricting the pandemic. As such, Helsinki and 11 other municipalities decided on 10 January 2022 that people exposed to the coronavirus at educational institutions, schools and daycare centres will no longer be regularly tracked or quarantined. Tracking measures will focus on infections among risk groups and in the social welfare and health care sector.

The recommendations concerning face mask use and remote working will be continued in the entire Helsinki metropolitan area until 13 February 2022. The coronavirus coordination group recommends to the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland that supervised recreational activities for children and young people should continue in accordance with the previous guidelines.

The rapid spread of the coronavirus in the Helsinki region has caused contact tracing and official quarantine orders to lose their effectiveness. People who have been exposed to the virus are now being asked to voluntarily self-isolate.

Helsinki will start administering COVID-19 vaccinations to pupils in grades 1–5 at schools in week 3. The principal will provide a more detailed school-specific vaccination schedule later. The vaccinations at schools will not require advance registration.

Due to the worsening COVID-19 situation, housing units for people with disabilities can only be visited for strictly necessary reasons. The request not to visit is valid from 6 January 2022 until further notice.

The COVID-19 situation in Helsinki has deteriorated dramatically. The number of COVID-19 infections continues to increase very rapidly in Helsinki. COVID-19 infection can occur anywhere at the moment, and Helsinki residents and others visiting the city are urged to use a face mask and avoid all unnecessary contact.