NordenBladet — A total of 947 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Finland between 21 and 27 June, which is much more than in the preceding weeks. In fact, this is over 400 cases more than the week before.

The recent spike in Covid-19 cases is largely due to football fans returning from Russia after attending UEFA European Championship matches. At least 4,500 Finnish fans travelled to St Petersburg, Russia, to watch Euro 2020 matches. By 30 June, a total of 386 football fans returning from Russia had tested positive for COVID-19, causing 50 further infections. Most of the cases were reported in the Cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa (a total of 264 cases and 17 further infections) and in the Hospital Districts of Pirkanmaa (38 cases and 8 further infections) and Southwest Finland (31 cases and 5 further infections).

The percentage of cases where the virus was contracted abroad has therefore grown. Between 21 and 27 June, half (50 per cent) of all new cases were of foreign origin, while in the previous week the cases of foreign origin accounted for 33 per cent of all cases. Over 40 per cent of the cases recorded between 21 and 27 June are directly linked to the Euro 2020 matches in Russia.

The spike in the number of COVID-19 cases between 21 and 27 June is reflected as an increase in the estimated effective basic reproduction number. Currently, the number is 0.70–0.90, with a 90 per cent probability.

Over one third of cases reported among people aged 20–29
The incidence of new cases over the last two weeks (14–27 June) was 27 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 23 in the preceding two-week period (31 May–13 June). The incidence of cases has increased particularly among people aged 20–29. Over one third (35 per cent) of the cases reported between 21 and 27 June were detected among 20–29-year-olds.

COVID-19 situation remains stable in many areas and hospitals The COVID-19 situation remains stable in many areas. Some areas have, however, reported local COVID-19 clusters. In some of the areas, particularly in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, the number of cases has grown considerably as a result of infections detected among Euro 2020 football fans. Based on the information provided by the hospital districts, a total of 38 people were receiving hospital care due to the COVID-19 disease on 30 June 2021. Of them, 3 were inpatients in primary healthcare, 28 inpatients in specialised healthcare and 7 inpatients in intensive care. So far, the need for hospital care has not changed essentially. On 30 June 2021, the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported to the communicable diseases register was 973.

Lower test rates than in preceding weeks — 72 per cent of people aged over 18 have received COVID-19 vaccineThe number of conducted COVID-19 tests has been decreasing since the beginning of June. Between 21 and 27 June, about 68,000 tests were taken, which is around 24,000 tests fewer than the week before. The percentage of positive COVID-19 cases of all samples taken has clearly grown. Between 21 and 27 June, the figure was 1.4 per cent.

In Finland, about 58 per cent of the population have received at least their first vaccine dose and 18 per cent their second dose. Approximately 72 per cent of people over 18 years of age have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Development of epidemic also monitored in summertime
The development of the epidemic will be monitored throughout the summer. A report on the epidemic is published on Thursdays at 10.00. The monitoring report on the epidemic published today and the previous reports are available on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

NordenBladet — The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has sent out for comments a proposal on amendments to the Decree of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Fees for Services Produced by the Foreign Service. The consultation round will be open until 6 August 2021. According to the proposal, the prices of identity cards and passports issued by missions abroad would be raised by 6 euros and 55 euros respectively.

The prices of passports issued to veterans of the Finnish wars would remain unchanged.

The proposed changes of identity card and passport prices are based on the cost-price principle referred to in the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State.

The price change is due to the amendments to the Identity Card Act, the Passport Act, sections 15 and 38 of the Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police, and sections 33a and 159 of the Aliens Act, which will enter into force on 2 August 2021.

From then on, identity cards will include biometric identifiers, that is, a facial image and fingerprints.

The additional expenditure caused by the amendments are part of the chargeable services provided by the Foreign Service and, in accordance with the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State (150/1992), must be covered fully by fees charged for issuance of permits.

Since 2014, a passport issued by a mission abroad has cost 140 euros.

The price of a passport does no longer correspond to the cost price, which is why a rise to 195 euros is proposed.

In accordance with section 6, subsection 1 of the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State, the amount of the fee for services rendered under public law must correspond to the total costs incurred by the State, that is, meet the cost price principle.

The request for comments has been targeted at certain recipients, but opinions on the proposed amendments to the Decree and the explanatory memorandum can be presented also by others.

NordenBladet — Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced Finland’s commitments to promote global equality at a summit that began in Paris on 30 June. The Generation Equality Forum is organised by the French President Emmanuel Macron, Mexico and the UN.

The Generation Equality Forum is the beginning of a five-year Generation Equality campaign coordinated by UN Women to advance global gender equality. The campaign has six Action Coalitions. Finland is one of the leaders of the Action Coalition that focuses on technology and innovation for gender equality.

Finland and other Generation Equality participants published their own commitments for achieving jointly agreed equality goals in Paris today.

Finland is committed to bridging the gender gap in technology education and working life and creating safe online environments by addressing gender-based violence online, for example. In addition, more funding will be allocated to new innovations and technological solutions will be introduced more widely to support healthcare.

Finland also joins UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund, in joint commitments. Finland supports the work of other Action Coalitions through commitments that promote sexual and reproductive health and eradicate online violence.

Finland will support the goals of the Generation Equality campaign by a total of EUR 150 million. Prime Minister Marin, who spoke at the opening event of the Generation Equality Forum, stressed the need to use technology to promote equality.

“We need everyone on board in our efforts to promote equality, both women and men. A society that is good for women and girls is a good society for everyone. This conviction has made my country’s success possible,” Prime Minister Marin said in her speech.

“My generation knows what great opportunities technology can present for us. But technology can only bring about progress on equality where it is available. Only together can we close the digital gender gap, create safe digital spaces and ensure an equal future for the benefit of all”, Prime Minister Marin continued.

Generation Equality is a multi-stakeholder campaign that implements gender equality action plans in cooperation with governments, companies, organisations and youth movements. A number of organisations in Finland have already joined the campaign, which invites all to make commitments to promote equality throughout the campaign period.

NordenBladet — Finland needs a migration policy that brings together the areas of responsibilities of different operators. On 30 June, the Ministry of the Interior set up a project to define long-term objectives for Finland’s comprehensive migration policy.

Migration has become a permanent part of growth and development in Finland, and it is expected to increase in the coming years. Migration policy therefore has an impact on society and how it develops. The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the overall migration policy in Finland. This is why the initiative for the project came from the Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior.

“It is clear that Finland needs migration to continue to thrive. Many studies show that foreign workers, researchers, students and their family members play an increasingly important role in economic growth and the future,” says Harri Sivula, Ministerial Adviser.

Migration to Finland is also affected by various crises and conflicts. It is anticipated that the number of people in need of protection will continue to grow, and that people will continue to seek asylum in Europe and Finland in the future too. This means that there is a growing need for the reception of quota refugees and the development of complementary pathways for legal migration.

“Finland must be able to take its own needs and those of migrants into account in the best possible way. At this stage, we have a good opportunity to learn from the experiences of other countries. With a comprehensive migration policy, we can maximise the benefits of migration and minimise the problems caused by social exclusion and inequality,” says Anna Rundgren, Senior Specialist.

A comprehensive approach means cooperation and involvement of different operators
Finnish migration policy is based on the Government’s policy positions, the EU’s common migration and asylum policy and international agreements. At the moment, however, Finland does not have a migration policy programme that would set out common migration objectives of different sectors of society. In central government, migration-related tasks are carried out in most ministries. Municipalities and organisations also have important responsibilities relating to immigrants and their integration.

With a comprehensive migration policy, the Ministry of the Interior wants to bring together the responsibilities of different operators and set uniform long-term objectives for them. This will be done through cooperation and experimentation with new methods. The Ministry of the Interior plays a coordinating role in the project.

“We will now be examining expectations of migration, areas for development in migration policy and the needs of both Finland and migrants. We want to engage in an active dialogue with various stakeholders and offer them opportunities to participate in and influence the work. In developing the methods of participation, we will be supported by the service design students of Laurea University of Applied Sciences,” says Mariana Salgado, Service Designer from the Ministry of the Interior.

Service design is based on the understanding of people’s needs. It is useful, for example when it comes to involving different operators in the ministry’s activities.

Views of stakeholders focus of a survey
Guidelines for the work have been obtained from a broad stakeholder survey carried out by the Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior in spring 2021. In the survey, a broad and diverse range of societal actors were asked to give their views on, for example what kind of a migration policy Finland needs, what should be prioritised in the policy, and what concrete measures are required.

The next step is to compile the views of experts, authorities and researchers comprehensively in order to develop Finland’s migration policy. Various workshops and webinars are being planned for the autumn.

The two-year project will run until 30 June 2023. A more detailed timetable for the project and the format of the final output will be specified as the preparation progresses.

NordenBladet — A report compiled by a working group appointed by the Ministry of the Interior includes several recommendations for improving the safety and security of the premises of religious communities. The report recommends that religious communities systematically improve the safety and security of premises. To this end, the working group has drawn up a model safety and security plan for use by the communities.

On 20 July 2020, the Ministry of the Interior set up a working group to identify security threats to the premises of religious communities. The task of the working group was to draw up proposals for improving safety and security. The reason for setting up the working group was the need to improve the safety and security of religious premises due to the recent terrorist attacks against these premises. The report now published contains recommendations for developing the safety and security of the premises of religious communities, improving the monitoring of the security situation, and enhancing the training and expertise in safety and security matters. The report also draws attention to the organisation and management of the safety and security functions of the premises of religious communities and the guidance for these functions.

“It would be important for religious communities to have a safety and security plan in future, which covers, for example security-related measures and those responsible for safety and security matters. The plan also needs to be regularly updated. Our working group has drawn up a complete model for a safety and security plan to facilitate and support the safety and security work of religious communities,” says Tarja Mankkinen, Head of Development from the Ministry of the Interior.

The report of the working group states that the religious communities in which safety and security measures have been developed for a longer time can make use of the safety and security plan attached to the report in their activities. Communities that are only just starting to develop safety and security measures in a systematic manner can do so by using the guide attached to the report. Instructions on how to complete the safety and security plan are also included in the report.

“I would advise that more than one key person should be involved in filling in the safety and security plan. In this way, different perspectives will be taken into account in the plan. Additionally, people who use the premises should know how to act in different situations,” says Mankkinen.

NordenBladet — On Wednesday 30 June, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will attend a high-level forum in Paris hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, Mexico and the United Nations. The Generation Equality Forum is an international gathering to highlight the campaign for advancing global gender equality. The Generation Equality Forum will be held under stringent coronavirus restrictions. The participants include around a dozen heads of state or government, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other leaders of international institutions, representatives of civil society organisations, and business leaders.

During the event, Finland and other Generation Equality participants will publish their own commitments for achieving jointly agreed equality goals.

The Generation Equality campaign is made up of six Action Coalitions that promote equality through concrete programmes of action. The programmes are to be implemented over the next five years in cooperation between governments, businesses, civil society and youth organisations.

Finland has a lead role in the campaign’s Action Coalition on technology and innovation for gender equality. The programmes of the other Action Coalitions focus on issues concerning gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, economic justice, climate change and women’s leadership.

Important to Finland are the elimination of gender-based online violence and the creation of safe and secure online environments. The main objectives of Finland and the global campaign also include encouraging girls and women to make use of technology and to seek work in the technology sector. Education has a key role to play in the development of technologies that reflect equality.

Finland’s participation in the campaign also extends beyond its lead role, as Finland is committed to promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights in concrete terms, among other things. Women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality are essential elements in Finland’s international activities and its campaign to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2022–2024.

NordenBladet — In its session on Tuesday 29 June, the Government decided to appoint Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Sofie From-Emmesberger to serve as Director General of the Department for Africa and the Middle East for a fixed term from 15 October 2021 to 31 August 2025.

From-Emmesberger will move to the post of Director General from the Council of the European Union where she is currently Chair of the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC). Previously she has worked as Finland’s national representative in the PSC and Head of Mission at Finland’s Embassy in Nairobi. Before that, From-Emmesberger has worked, among other things, as Director of the Human Rights Unit in the Ministry. In the Diplomatic Service, she has held post, for example, in Tel Aviv and Strasbourg. From-Emmesberger joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1996. She holds the degree of Master of Laws.

NordenBladet — The temporary amendment to the Basic Education Act makes it possible to switch to exceptional teaching arrangements if it becomes necessary from the viewpoint of the COVID-19 epidemiological situation. This ensures that teaching during the academic year 2021-2022 can be organised safely. The period of validity of the temporary amendments related to vocational skills demonstrations and higher education legislation will also be extended. Following Parliament’s approval of the Government’s proposals, the President of the Republic approved the laws on Tuesday 29 June.

As a rule, primary and lower secondary education will be organised as contact teaching during the autumn term. Education providers can decide to switch to exceptional teaching arrangements if contact teaching in schools and other places of education cannot be organised safely due to a decision taken under the Communicable Diseases Act.

In such cases, safe learning can be ensured by alternating contact teaching and distance learning, for example by placing groups in distance learning on alternating weeks. Assessments on the safety of contact teaching must be carried out in cooperation with regional authorities responsible for infectious diseases. Students have the right to school meals, support for learning and school attendance and social benefits for students during the exceptional arrangements.The temporary amendments to the Basic Education Act and the Act on the European School of Helsinki will enter into force on 1 August 2021 and remain in force until 31 July 2022.

Vocational skills demonstrations and higher education institutions
The temporary amendment to the Act on Vocational Education and Training regarding more flexible arrangements for demonstrations will be continued. If, for reasons attributable to the coronavirus epidemic, vocational skills demonstrations and competence demonstrations that are necessary for passing a qualification module cannot be carried out in authentic work situations and processes, students may demonstrate their vocational skills and competence by performing other practical tasks that are as similar to authentic work situations and processes as possible. In addition, the demonstration of skills and competence can be supplemented with other types of competence assessment more flexibly than at present.

The temporary amendments to the Universities Act and the Universities of Applied Sciences Act will also be extended. In higher education institutions, students may register as non-attending students during their first academic year if they are unable to start their studies due to an official regulation related to the COVID-19 epidemic or for other serious reasons related to the epidemic.If it is not possible to organise studies included in the curriculum due to COVID-19, higher education institutions are not obliged to organise degree programmes and academic advice in such a way that students can complete their degrees within the normative time laid down in law. Delays in study progress due to changes in teaching arrangements are taken into account when making a decision on the extension of the right to study.

The amendments made to the Act on Vocational Education and Training, the Universities Act and the Universities of Applied Sciences Act will enter into force on 1 July 2021. These temporary changes will remain in force until 31 July 2022.

NordenBladet — On 29 June, the Government decided on country-specific changes to the restrictions on entry into Finland on the basis of the epidemiological situation. Internal border controls will be lifted for Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein and Slovakia from 1 July.

Restrictions on external border traffic will be lifted for traffic arriving in Finland from Bulgaria and for residents of Albania, Hong Kong, Japan, Lebanon, Macao, North Macedonia and Taiwan arriving in Finland in traffic from these countries or territories.

Restrictions on entry will be reinstated for traffic arriving from Monaco and for residents of Rwanda in traffic arriving from Rwanda to Finland. These restrictions will also enter into force on 1 July 2021.