Take care of the prevention of respiratory tract infections also during Christmas and the new year – THL updated its Covid-19 guidelines

Publication date 22 Dec 2022

Many different respiratory tract infections are currently circulating in Finland. The influenza epidemic has begun, and there are many cases caused by the RSV virus. The epidemic situation is stable, but the coronavirus is still extensively circulating in the population.

You can protect yourself against coronavirus, influenza, and other respiratory tract infections in the same way:

  • Take the recommended vaccinations–they are the best way to protect yourself against severe forms of the diseases.
  • Stay at home while sick – even during Christmas.
  • Wash your hands and cough and sneeze into your sleeve – the best way to avoid respiratory tract infections is to maintain hygiene.
  • Assess your own risk, use a mask if necessary, and keep a distance from others.
  • Take care of indoor ventilation.

‘The same precautions apply to all respiratory tract infections. If you get sick, it is important to refrain from visiting friends and family during Christmas to prevent infections. By doing this, everyone can protect at-risk groups, such as the older people,’ says Chief Physician Tuula Hannila-Handelberg from THL.

Covid-19 guidelines for citizens updated

THL has updated its Covid-19 guidelines for citizens. The content of the website has been updated to be in line with the pages of other infectious diseases.
From now on, basic information on Covid-10 and the symptoms of coronavirus disease can be found in a compact form on a single web page. Guidelines for preventing all types of respiratory tract infections are now found in one place.

‘Coronavirus should be approached in the same way as other respiratory tract infections. There is no longer any need for specific guidelines for coronavirus,’ says Hannila-Handelberg.

Different respiratory tract infections are treated in the same way

A disease caused by coronavirus cannot often be distinguished from other respiratory tract infections based on symptoms. A mild coronavirus infection is treated in the same way as the common cold.

If your general condition is getting worse or the symptoms are serious, you should contact health care services, as with all other illnesses.

‘Those belonging to risk groups should contact their health care provider with a low threshold. Medication to treat coronavirus disease symptoms can be started for people in at-risk groups, when necessary,’ says Hannila-Handelberg.

Previously, it was recommended that a person who has a coronavirus infection avoids contacts for five days from the onset of the symptoms. Now it is recommended to act like you would with a common cold: you can return to everyday life when the fever is gone, and the symptoms have clearly subsided.

‘If you have a respiratory tract infection, it is a good idea to rest at home. One can return to work, school, and day care when the symptoms have clearly subsided and the possible fever is gone. With a child, it is a good idea to wait until the child is able to participate in schoolwork or early childhood education and care activities. Workplaces can give their own guidelines,’ says Hannila-Handelberg.

In viral infections, communicability decreases rapidly after the beginning of symptoms. Nasal discharge and coughing may continue for a long period and do not prevent returning to, for example, work, school, or day care.

Those who have been exposed to coronavirus can continue their daily lives normally

Even if there is a coronavirus infection in the family, other family members can go normally to, for example, work, school, day care and hobbies if they have no symptoms.

Covid-19 home tests can still be used if desired. In health care services, coronavirus testing is now mainly limited  to  persons with symptoms who are at risk of a severe coronavirus disease.

THL will continue to monitor the epidemic situation and report on such issues as the burden on hospitals, the amount of coronavirus present in wastewater and the detected virus variants.

Further information:

Tuula Hannila-Handelberg
Chief Physician
THL
+358 29 524 7701
[email protected]
Infektiotaudit ja rokotukset Main site koronavirus_en - thlfi-en