Summary: The decisions follow a meeting of government ministers at the House of the Estates on Thursday afternoon.

Finland's government is pushing ahead with plans to introduce a Covid pass, following a meeting of ministers at the House of the Estates in Helsinki on Thursday afternoon.
 "There are still many open questions that need to be answered. At this point, it is impossible to promise that the pass will come or when it will come," Prime Minister  Sanna Marin  (SDP) told the media following the conclusion of the meeting.
 "The government has given the green light to the Covid pass and preparations will continue," Marin added.
 Minister of Economic Affairs  Mika Lintilä  (Cen) told reporters immediately after the meeting that there was broad agreement between the coalition parties over the need for the certificate.
 "It [the pass] is an important tool so that we will not need restrictions any more," Lintilä said.
 The government also decided at Thursday afternoon's meeting to offer coronavirus vaccines to all 12- to 15-year-olds, starting as early as next week.
 "Fortunately, we have received an extra batch of approximately 200,000 doses of vaccine in Finland, from which these vaccinations [for 12- to 15-year-olds] can be started without interfering with other vaccination programmes," Marin told Yle's A-studio on Wednesday evening.
 Restrictions for bars, restaurants in spreading regions
 Furthermore, the government will reintroduce restrictions on the opening hours and operations of bars and restaurants due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation in regions considered to be in the spreading — or most serious — phase of the epidemic.
 This means that bars and restaurants in the regions of Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa and Kymenlaakso, as well as the Helsinki metropolitan area, will have to adapt to new regulations that are due to take effect from Sunday.
 The measures include the opening hours of bars being limited to between 7am and 10pm, while restaurants can stay open one hour later. A ban on karaoke and dancing indoors has also been reintroduced.
 There will be no changes to the opening hours of bars or restaurants in regions considered to be in the acceleration phase of the pandemic.
 Changes to external border traffic
 The government has also decided to make changes to the restrictions on Finland's external border traffic, according to the Ministry of the Interior. External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and countries not belonging to the Schengen area.
 The regulations currently in effect will be amended, beginning from 9 August, so that entry restrictions are removed for Ukrainian residents traveling to Finland from Ukraine.
 Restrictions on entry will be restored for residents of Azerbaijan, South Korea, Japan, Moldova, Serbia and Singapore travelling from these countries to Finland.
 If a person arriving from the above-mentioned countries has not received a full series of vaccinations, the permitted entry criteria are a resident returning to Finland or other EU or Schengen countries, transit of regular scheduled flight traffic at the airport, or other essential reasons.
 A person can travel to Finland from any country by presenting an acceptable certificate of the full vaccination series.
 These new regulations aside, the restrictions that entered into force on 19 July still apply.
 The latest restrictions are in effect until 22 August.
 Protesters demand "same rules for all"
 A small but vocal group of protestors, representing cultural sector workers, gathered near the House of the Estates while the government meeting was ongoing to demonstrate against coronavirus restrictions, demanding a fairer distribution of measures.
 Restrictions have hit especially hard on the cultural and event industry, with many workers in the sector unable to work for the past year and a half. At the same time, the protestors pointed out, shopping malls have been allowed to operate as normal.
 "Same rules for all," the protesters chanted.

Government opens vaccinations for 12-15-year-olds, gives green light to Covid pass


Summary: The median rent for a studio apartment in central Helsinki was 809 euros per month, while they cost around 583 euros in downtown Tampere and 515 euros in the centre of Oulu.

Rental fees for non-subsidised apartments rose across most of Finland during April to June, compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from Statistics Finland.
 On average, rents rose by 0.9 percent during that period across the country.
 Timo Metsola , board chair of rental agency Vuokraturva, attributed the increase to growing demand, saying that competition clearly intensified for the most desirable properties.
 The sharpest rise in apartment rents during the April-June period was seen in the city of Turku, where costs rose by 1.6 percent, with the city of Tampere seeing an increase of 1.4 percent.
 Meanwhile in the Greater Helsinki area, rents ticked up by 0.9 percent.
 Among the country's municipal centres, the town of Mikkeli was the only area which saw rental fees decline.
 Still priciest in Helsinki area
 The number-crunching agency reported that the median rent for a studio apartment in central Helsinki was 809 euros per month, while they stood at 583 euros in downtown Tampere and 515 euros in the centre of Oulu.
 Meanwhile, larger homes, for example three-room apartments cost a median of 1,634 in downtown Helsinki, 1,070 euros in Tampere and 940 euros in Oulu.
 Metsola said that new students began searching for places to live towards the end of July, but noted that there were fewer young flat hunters this summer than in years before the coronavirus crisis.
 "The pandemic has increased distance learning, and only some educational institutions are planning to conduct in-person teaching when the academic year gets started this autumn," he said, explaining that fewer new students will start renting, compared to pre-crisis years.

Rents rise across Finland, biggest jumps in Turku, Tampere


Summary: Emma Terho was a member of Finland's bronze-winning ice hockey teams in 1998 and 2010, and has since held several high profile roles within the IOC.

Double Olympic ice hockey bronze medallist  Emma Terho  has been elected chair of the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission (IOC AC).
 The Athletes' Commission is a majority elected body that serves as the mediator between athletes and the IOC.
 Terho will replace swimming champion  Kirsty Coventry  from Zimbabwe as AC chair after being elected ahead of Russian two-time Olympic pole vault champion,  Yelena Isinbayeva .
 Terho will be following in the footsteps of Finnish Olympian and former sailor  Peter Tallberg , who was involved in the Olympic movement for more than 40 years.
 "Finland's Peter Tallberg was among the most proactive members of the Athletes' Commission and ensured that the voices of athletes would play a bigger role in the IOC. Both the role and workload of the commission have grown exponentially in recent years, which is a good thing because athletes are the most important part of the Games," the 39-year-old Terho said in an Olympic Committee press release.
 "That is why it is both a great and huge responsibility to be in this role and also to continue Peter's legacy. I also believe that this is a valuable post and an opportunity to bring forward the values that I consider important as a Finn," she added.
 Terho has been involved in the Athletes' Commission and the IOC since the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Finnish Olympian elected chair of IOC Athletes' Commission


Summary: The Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland said it has requested expert analysis on the pandemic situation and will decide on new regulations next week.

The Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland (Avi) has announced that coronavirus restrictions in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area will not be tightened, or at least not yet.
 In a statement released on Friday morning, Avi said that it has requested expert analysis on the development of the coronavirus epidemic in the capital region and any new measures will be brought into force after changes to the opening hours and operations of bars and restaurants begin from Sunday 8 August.
 Therefore, any possible tightening of restrictions will be discussed and decided upon next week, Avi added.
 New restrictions for Kymenlaakso region
 However, there are updated restrictions for the Kymenlaakso region, which entered the spreading — or most serious — phase of the epidemic on 4 August.
 The new measures mostly affect how many people can attend public and private events in the region, with organisers responsible for ensuring that participants can maintain a distance of two metres from each other at all times, both for indoor and outdoor events.
 The regulations will come into force on 14 August.

Avi: No tightening of restrictions yet for Helsinki region


Summary: While some hospital districts have moved healthcare staff up the vaccination queue, a number of workers have not yet had the chance to receive the first dose.

A small percentage of Finland's healthcare workers are yet to receive a coronavirus vaccine, an Yle survey has revealed.
 This means that unvaccinated carers are currently tending to elderly patients in some care homes across the country, despite a law outlining that the use of vaccinated staff is prioritised when it comes to the treatment of vulnerable groups.
 However, unlike with influenza, the Communicable Diseases Act does not require healthcare staff to get the coronavirus vaccine.
 Yle emailed a questionnaire enquiring into the vaccination status of staff at all 20 hospital districts. Replies were received from 13 districts, and the survey found that between 85 and 95 percent of doctors and nurses have been vaccinated with at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
 The figure is however just an estimate as precise health information is covered by patient confidentiality, even in the case of healthcare workers. The hospital district estimates were based on voluntary reports.
 The Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), for example, reported that the capital's caregivers' vaccination coverage is estimated at 95 percent, with that figure expected to rise.
 "Our goal is more than 95 percent vaccination coverage," HUS Communications Manager  Niina Kauppinen  said.
 Unvaccinated younger workers causing concern
 Although the number of unvaccinated staff is low and is most commonly detected among younger workers, the issue is causing concern for the Kymenlaakso Hospital District, or Kymsote, according to Chief Administrative Officer  Kari Kristeri .
 "They are [typically] socially active young adults who get the virus from trips and gatherings," Kristeri said.
 Risto Pietikäinen , Kymsote's chief physician, said that although some of the workers tend to patients in their homes, chains of infections among the elderly population have been rare.
 The infectious diseases specialist added that young people have found themselves at the tail of vaccination queues in the care sector so not everyone has yet had the chance to receive a jab.
 What makes the situation worrying is that a surprising number of healthcare workers are turning the jab down, Pietikäinen added.
 "Some young people do not consider the vaccine necessary. I would imagine that some of the unvaccinated workers are still studying and are working for us on summer contracts," Pietikäinen said.
 Up to a quarter of Lapland's healthcare staff unvaccinated
 Markku Broas , chief physician in Lapland's Hospital District, said that nurses have been requested to take the vaccine only after severe outbreaks of infections. This has recently been the case in three care homes in Lapland and a ward unit of a healthcare centre.
 "Some 10-25 percent of staff on the wards were unvaccinated," Broas said, adding that this is not just solely due to a lack of willingness to get the jab.
 Lapland's vaccination coverage has experienced delays and thus a large number of students working in hospitals and the care sector under summer contracts have not yet had the chance to get vaccinated or have only received one jab.
 In Rovaniemi, for example, there have been difficulties in securing a vaccination appointment, and the vaccination of young people working in the social services was not prioritised over other members of the same age group.
 "New employees have not necessarily even had time to book the vaccine before starting work. It is only recently that the pace of vaccination of young people has started to pick up again," Broas said.
 Some hospital districts prioritised vaccinations of staff members
 The vaccine coverage of healthcare staff varies across different parts of Finland, according to the results of Yle's survey, with nurses and physicians in some districts having had quick and easy access to vaccinations.
 This has also applied to deputies and summer workers.  Veikko Karvanen , Chief Physician of primary health care in Soster, the South-Savo Hospital District, reported that summer workers and deputies were able to receive their jabs as early as spring, before beginning their employment.
 Finland's vaccination policy only gave priority to staff treating coronavirus patients and emergency care, but not all caregivers.
 South Karelia's Hospital District (Eksote) and North Karelia's (Siun sote) reported that all workers who agreed to the jab have already been vaccinated.
 In the North-Savo hospital district, summer workers have been able to receive the vaccine via occupational health care.
 "The mask recommendations have been valid for us all the time, so according to the employer's instructions, working with patients must be done in a protected manner, regardless of whether the employee has been vaccinated or not,"  Anne Kantanen , director of nursing reported.
 Kantanen also pointed out that the vaccine does not provide full protection and thus some of the vaccinated staff have also become infected.
 "Individual cases of infections in nurse staff have also been recorded, but there is no information on whether they have been vaccinated or not," Kantanen said.

Yle survey: Small percentage of healthcare workers still unvaccinated


Summary: Mass testing of 110 foreign berry pickers in Lapland revealed 40 more coronavirus infections.

Dozens of coronavirus infections have been diagnosed among a group of berry pickers from Thailand working in Lapland.
 Mass testing organised by the Lapland Hospital District of 110 seasonal workers in the region found that 40 had contracted the virus.
 The testing was carried out after  news reports earlier this week  revealed that 44 berry pickers in the Kainuu region had tested positive for the virus.
 Markku Broas , Chief Physician of Infectious Diseases of the Lapland Hospital District (LSHP) told Yle that the workers had been tested as required by regulations when they entered Finland and on the third day after entry.
 He said that this case proves that no system is one hundred percent effective.
 "Even if the test is done on the third day, the virus can appear and become contagious later. It has apparently happened here that the infection has come after the third day," he said.
 Mass testing set to continue in Lapland
 Broas pointed out that as the berry pickers are living and working together in the same groups, there is a high risk that the virus will be transmitted from one person to another.
 "Especially in the case of the Delta virus variant, this is the situation," he said.
 A total of 250 berry pickers are set to be tested in the Lapland region over Friday and the weekend.
 "We also go through with the companies very carefully about what their isolation and quarantine practices are. So far, the companies have done a good job in terms of safety. Preliminary testing has been done and bubble practices have been pursued," Broas said.
 The infected berry pickers have been isolated and are not currently working. Quarantined workers are tested every two days.
 "If they are healthy, they can pick berries. But if a negative test result is followed by a positive test result, the berries they pick can be identified and not delivered to consumers," Broas said.

Coronavirus infections diagnosed in second group of seasonal workers


Summary: Nine large blocks, containing 13 cubes of ice each, are intended as a reminder of the ongoing climate crisis and the threat posed by rising sea levels.

The City of Lahti, Europe's Green Capital of 2021, has brought a climate action art installation entitled the  Indisputable Case of Emergency (ICE)  to the centre of Helsinki.
 The nine large blocks containing 13 cubes of ice each are intended to serve as a reminder of the ongoing climate crisis, as the melting ice symbolises the rapid progress of climate change and subsequent rise in sea levels, which will pose a severe threat to coastal cities over the coming decades.
 The installation, unveiled on the capital's Kansalaistori square at noon on Friday, also features infographics related to climate change and an  ICE  musical composed by  Cecilia Damström , which premiered at the opening ceremony.
 "Ever since childhood I have wanted to make the world a better place. I feel that I can influence it by composing as well. The work is inspired by the melting of ice, the music depicts winter and ice," Damström said of the musical arrangement.
 The ice cubes were initially formed in the Ylläs region of Lapland last winter, after which they were placed into cold storage in Kivikko, Helsinki, the installation's architect  Erkko Aarti  told Yle.
 "The theme, climate change, is a massive one. For a long time, we wondered how to put it into practice. Then we ended up with ice and wood because they are environmentally friendly and durable materials. The goal was an impressive piece of work that provokes discussion," Aarti explained.
 The installation also includes a wooden pavilion, where visitors can learn more about Lahti's status as European Green Capital for 2021. The pavilion will be open until August 15, but the ice cubes are not expected to last that long.
 "The ice cubes seem to be attracting attention, but this is a huge space where everything looks small. But the great thing is that you can see and feel the coolness of the ice. We do not know when the ice will melt, but at least for some time here we can follow the micro-climate change," Aarti said.
 Lahti as European Green Capital 2021
 The installation is one of a number of projects arranged by the City of Lahti to mark its year as the European Green Capital.
 "Here, the intention is also to shake up the images that people living outside Lahti have of our city. This is one of our most visible campaigns in Helsinki," program director  Saara Vauramo  from Lahti's European Environment Capital 2021 project told Yle.
 Lahti has set itself an ambitious goal of being a carbon-neutral city by 2025.
 The total cost of the art installation including the wooden pavilions is about 200,000 euros.

Climate action art installation unveiled in downtown Helsinki


Summary: The union says the move could lower the threshold for younger people to get vaccinated and prevent online teaching arrangements from being imposed.

The Union of Upper Secondary School Students has issued a demand that pop-up coronavirus vaccination points be set up in high schools in an effort to secure on-site learning and increase the vaccine coverage of young people.
 The pop-up stations could facilitate the vaccination of students without an appointment, for example during a break or a gap between lessons, the union said, adding that it believes vaccine appointments should also be an acceptable reason to be away from class.
 "We see that this would be a much needed opportunity with a low threshold to increase vaccine coverage for young people, seeing that a large number of young people have not yet received the first dose of the vaccine," President of the Association of High School Students,  Emilia Uljas  said.
 The opportunity to get the vaccine spontaneously at school would make it easier for younger groups to get vaccinated, Uljas said, adding that "young people would then not need to plan their schedule around a vaccination appointment."
 Coronavirus infections are currently on the rise, especially among young adults. However, Uljas told Yle it is unfair that discussions around the surge in cases typically point the finger of blame at younger age groups.
 "Young people were left last in the vaccination queue and now people complain that not all young people have gotten the vaccine. Of course they have not, as they haven't even had the opportunity to get the vaccine for as long as older people have been able to," the union president said, but added that she is pleased to see people taking a stand in favour of contact teaching since the  emergence of rumours  that the new school year will see distance learning resume.
 "Young people have suffered terribly from this pandemic. Being able to go to school is really the least that can be done for young people at this point," she concluded.

Students should get vaccine at high school without appointment, union says


Summary: A total of four petrol stations have been hit by the gang in Häme and southeast Finland over the past week.

A gang of three masked individuals have stolen or attempted to steal pay terminals at four locations in different parts of Finland over the past week.
 Police say they are still working to identify the three suspects.
 The first theft took place on Wednesday morning at a petrol station in Tervakoski near the municipality of Janakkala in southern Finland. Häme police said that a vehicle previously stolen from the Parola area of Hattula was used in the robbery.
 Story continues after the photo.
 Häme police say the car used by the gang was a 2013 brown-coloured Kia Ceed. Poliisi
 The car is a 2013 brown Kia Ceed station wagon with a white ski box on the roof, as seen in the above image from surveillance footage captured at the scene.
 The gang made their getaway after obtaining a small sum of money.
 Gang moves east
 The following evening, Thursday, police believe the gang struck again in southeast Finland, hitting petrol stations in Virolahti, Miehikkälä and Luumäki.
 In both Miehikkälä and Luumäki, the gang's attempts to steal from the machines were unsuccessful. They were interrupted in Miehikkälä and quickly fled the scene, but police are unsure why the Luumäki attempt failed.
 "The machine was broken, but for one reason or another it was not taken," Chief Inspector  Jarmo Rahkola  from the Southeast Finland Police Department said.
 The department confirmed on Friday that the gang had successfully stolen a machine from an ABC filling station in Virolahti, Kymenlaakso. The machine has not yet been recovered and the amount of cash that was in the terminal at the time of the robbery is not currently known.
 Footage of the gang was captured by surveillance cameras in the Kymenlaakso region as well, and police believe the machine was removed from the Virolahti station by a black car the gang was using.
 Police believe the four cases are related
 According to Chief Inspector Rahkola, police believe the same gang was involved in all four robberies or attempted robberies, but the identity of the perpetrators is not currently known to the police.
 The incidents in Virolahti, Miehikkälä and Luumäki are being investigated by the Southeast Finland Police Department as one suspected case of aggravated theft and two suspected cases of attempted aggravated theft.
 The police have asked anyone with any information about the thefts to contact the Southeast Finland Police Department via email rikostorjunta.kymenlaakso@poliisi.fi or by phone to 0295 414 500.
 Information related to the Janakkala case can be reported to the Häme Police hotline on 0295 414 222 or by email vihjeet.hame@poliisi.fi.

Police appeal for help identifying masked gang stealing petrol station pay terminals


Summary: The man picked up unaccompanied women from taxi ranks around the Helsinki area and provided them with alcohol and drugs while pretending to bring them to their intended destination.

Helsinki District Court has sentenced a 43-year-old taxi driver to six years and three months in prison for a total of 18 different crimes, most of which were related to the drugging and raping of four female victims.
 The court heard that from 2019 the defendant had been driving a car with a taxi sign on the roof and picking up unaccompanied women from taxi ranks. Police believe he provided his victims with alcohol and possibly other intoxicants while pretending to bring them to their intended destination.
 However, he instead brought the passengers to an apartment outside Helsinki, where the court heard he raped the women. Some of the sexual offences also took place inside the taxi.
 One of the victims was only 16 years old.
 The man was convicted on charges of rape, aggravated rape and coercion into sexual activity, as well as other offences including deprivation of liberty, illicit observation, distribution of sexually obscene images, drug offences, and violation of an order banning the use of a psychoactive substance.
 The defendant had denied most of the charges.
 More suspected victims have emerged during the  course of the preliminary investigation , and police have already brought new charges against the man for suspected sexual offences with investigations into other cases continuing.
 Friday's ruling by the Helsinki District Court only concerned the earlier cases.

Court sentences taxi driver to prison for drugging, raping four women


Summary: Opposition National Coalition Party (NCP) candidates collected significant campaign donations from the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) and other business groups and individuals.

According to preliminary campaign financing reports on the municipal elections held in June, business groups and executives tended to favour candidates from the opposition National Coalition Party (NCP). All final election funding reports must be submitted by the end of next week.
 Candidates elected as councillors or deputy councillors in municipal elections are required to reveal their campaign funding. There is still more than a week to file the reports. The deadline is Monday, 16 August.
 Many councillors have already made their announcements, while some also provided voluntary advance notice of campaign funding before the election.
 The information in this story has been collected from funding announcements as of Friday afternoon, 6 August.
 Three party chairs,  Sanna Marin  (SDP),  Petteri Orpo  (NCP) and  Anna-Maja Henriksson  (SPP) had not yet submitted their announcement of their campaign funding as of Friday.
 Helsinki mayoral candidates top spending list
 Helsinki mayoral candidates were at the forefront of spending money on election campaigns. However, the differences were large.
 Juhana Vartiainen  of the NCP, who was elected mayor of Helsinki, spent 57,511 euros on his campaign, none of it his own money. Much of his funding came as donations from business executives.
 Vartiainen received almost 45,000 euros from private individuals for the election. Among them were six well-known business figures, whose donations exceeded the 800-euro notification limit.
 For example, Sampo Group CEO  Björn Wahlroos  donated euros 3,000 to Vartiainen's campaign.  Ilpo Kokkila , one of the principal owners of the construction company SRV, gave Vartia 1,500 euros.
 Anni Sinnemäki  of the Greens, who came in second, earning the post of deputy mayor, estimated her campaign expenses at 64,300 euros in a preliminary announcement.
 Based on her advance announcement, Sinnemäki apparently spent the most money on her Helsinki mayoral election campaign, 64,300 euros.
 In her advance announcement, Sinnemäki estimated that she would spend 18,000 euros of her own money on the campaign. Support from the Helsinki Greens was to cover more than half of the campaign costs. Sinnemäki has not yet submitted a report on actual campaign expenditures.
 Outgoing Finns Party chair  Jussi Halla-aho , who vied unsuccessfully for the mayoral post, said his spending on the municipal elections was below the minimum that must be reported, 800 euros. Halla-aho clarified to Yle that the amount was zero euros.
 While he did not win the mayoral race, Halla-aho won the largest number of votes of any candidate nationwide, nearly 19,000. Just after the election, he made the surprise announcement that he would step down as party leader in mid-August.
 Ohisalo received election funding from spouse
 Among other party chairs,  Maria Ohisalo  of the Greens estimated that her election campaign would cost 13,000 euros, 9,000 euros of that from her own money. Ohisalo also reported 1,000 euros in financial support from her husband, a renewable energy executive.
 Before election day, Left Alliance chair  Li Andersson  announced that she intended to spend nearly 5,000 euros on her campaign, almost all her own money.
 In her preliminary announcement, Centre chair  Annika Saarikko  estimated that she would spend 1,620 euros on the election, none of it her own money.
 Tavio received donations from EK and the Construction Industry
 Emma Kari , chair of the Green parliamentary group, estimated that she would spend 24,000 euros on the elections in her preliminary announcement, 19,000 euros out of her own funds.
 In his preliminary announcement, Swedish People's Party parliamentary whip  Anders Adlercreutz , estimated that he would spend euros 4,193 on the election, most of that from Stiftelsen för det tvåspråkiga Finland (the Finnish Bilingual Foundation).
 Ville Tavio , leader of the opposition Finns Party parliamentary group, spent 1,882 euros on the election, mostly covered by subsidies from the business community. Business lobby the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) supported Tavio with 1,000 euros while the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries (RT) gave him 500.
 SDP group leader  Antti Lindtman  and the NCP's  Kai Mykkänen  have not yet submitted their election financing announcements.
 However, the EK said that it supported Lindtman to the tune of 790 euros and Mykkänen 500 euros.
 EK supported the NCP the most
 In the municipal elections, the EK distributed support to five parties or their candidates. The NCP and its candidates received the most support (5,320 euros), followed by the Centre (3,785), the SDP (2,480), the Greens (2,395) and the Finns Party (1,000).
 In the municipal elections, the blue-collar union federation SAK provided support only to a handful of candidates who were its own staff members, granting them 300 euros each.
 The money spent by the candidates is only part of the campaign money for the municipal elections. In addition, national parties and local municipal organisations, for example, spend money on election campaigns.
 Campaign funding declarations of municipal candidates can be found on the website of the State Audit Office, which monitors campaign funding.

Business lobby provided most municipal election funding to NCP


Summary: A decline in Veikkaus revenues is hurting its beneficiaries in the fields of culture, sports, science, and youth work as well as social welfare and health.

Minister of Science and Culture  Antti Kurvinen  (Cen) has proposed that revenues from the state-owned gambling monopoly, Veikkaus, be transferred to the state budget.
 On Saturday Kurvinen said that the betting agency's income is declining, and without a change so will the income of charities and other groups that benefit from its profits. Veikkaus revenues are distributed to organisations in the fields of culture, sports, science, and youth work as well as social welfare and health.
 Kurvinen proposed making the change from the beginning of 2024.
 Kurvinen, who became Minister of Science and Culture  at the end of May , said that he has researched the issue of Veikkaus' income distribution during the summer and discussed it with several beneficiaries of gambling revenues.
 "My view is that from the beginning of 2024, Veikkaus' income should be transferred to the state budget in the same way as, for example, Alko transfers its own dividends and income to the state budget, from which they are used for good purposes," Kurvinen told the Finnish News Agency STT.
 Kurvinen said that he has reached the same position on the matter as a working group chaired by former Bank of Finland Governor  Erkki Liikanen , which last spring proposed a comprehensive reform to divert gambling revenues to general government revenue and transfer current beneficiaries to the budget framework procedure.
 Veikkaus income declining
 The need for reform is due to Veikkaus' declining income. This is due to a drop in slot machine revenues because of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as  measures taken  to tackle gambling addiction.
 "Without a clear change and reform, we will find ourselves in a situation where the income of Veikkaus' beneficiaries is constantly falling. This is about the income of Finnish science, culture, youth organisations and especially sports and exercise," Kurvinen said.
 According to Kurvinen, the distribution of Veikkaus revenues through the budget would bring predictability to cash flows, which is essential for beneficiaries.
 "Recent years have shown that we are in a strange situation here: the success of a Finnish gaming company determines what kind of resources there are, for example, for top Finnish sports and youth sports or for high-level Finnish research. This creates a strange, uncertain situation," Kurvinen noted.
 More power for politicians?
 The problem with the new way of distributing Veikkaus' revenues has been that it would make the funding of beneficiaries dependent on political decision-making.
 Kurvinen does not deny that the change would increase the role of political decision-making, but said he considers that a lesser evil than the uncertainty and funding cuts that lie ahead if no reforms are made.
 "In the long run, however, it would be clearer and less problematic to make political value decisions than for the success of Veikkaus' business to be the determining factor in how many opportunities there are for young researchers in Finland or how much art is funded in Finland," Kurvinen said.
 Kurvinen declined to comment on the broader questions of reforming the Lotteries Act or reducing the harms of compulsive gambling.
 "There is one question about how betting proceeds are distributed and there is another question about where slot machines are located, how they're used and what kind of lottery law we have," Kurvinen said.
 According to Kurvinen, the distribution of Veikkaus' income can justifiably be equated with the distribution of the income of another state monopoly company: alcohol retailer Alko. According to Kurvinen, the two companies are similar in that both offer products that cause human suffering when used to excess.
 It is therefore justified that they should also be treated in the same way, he argued.
 "Alko profits are not earmarked for substance abuse education or social and health care costs, for example, but go straight into the state budget," he pointed out.
 According to Kurvinen, the government has agreed to set up a parliamentary working group to consider how Veikkaus income will be distributed.
 As the matter involves several other ministries besides the Ministry of Education and Culture, the prime minister's office is responsible for steering the issue.
 "I hope that a working group will be set up as soon as possible. It's not too late yet, but time is running short," Kurvinen said.

Culture minister: State should treat gambling monopoly revenues like alcohol profits


Summary: According to the sector, the two-metre safety distancing requirement makes theatrical operations "absurd" from a financial standpoint.

The Finnish theatre sector has called on the government to abolish the requirement that audience members must be seated at least two metres apart.
 It said this means that theatres can only take in 10-20 percent of their audience capacity, in effect meaning that performances cannot be financially viable.
 The statement, published on Saturday, was backed by more than 100 groups in the theatre industry.
 According to the open letter, the two-metre safety distancing requirement for indoor events makes theatrical operations financially "absurd", as operating costs remain the same as when presenting to a full auditorium.
 Coronavirus passport needed urgently
 Instead, the theatre industry urges that coronavirus passports be introduced as soon as possible to allow audiences to attend cultural events safely this autumn.
 On Thursday, the government decided to continue preparations for the possible introduction of a coronavirus passport. So far, there is no information on when the passport could be made available. Ministers say it must be approved by Parliament, which does not reconvene until 7 September.
 The letter argues that as long as there are restrictions on public events, the industry will generate losses and need additional state support for both theatres and freelancers, including rising unemployment benefits.
 Losses in the performing arts sector are around 1.5 million euros each week, according to the daily Helsingin Sanomat.
 The statement was released on Saturday at the Tampere Theatre Festival.
 The signatories include the Association of Finnish Theatres, the Finnish Theatre Directors' Association, the Finnish Actors' Association, the Finnish National Theatre and the Helsinki City Theatre.

Theatre sector calls for quick adoption of coronavirus passport, end to 2-metre seating gaps


Summary: Under the new rules, restrictions on bars and restaurants in community spread areas apply to both indoor and outdoor areas. Only four regions are free of restrictions.

As of Sunday, new restaurant restrictions apply due to the worsening coronavirus situation.
 In the areas designated as being in the community spread phase, alcohol sales must end at 10 pm, while those in the so-called acceleration phase may serve until midnight.
 The areas in the community spread phase are Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa and Kymenlaakso, as well as the Helsinki metropolitan area, i.e., Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen.
 The regions now classified as in the less-serious "acceleration phase" are Satakunta, Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, North Savo, North and South Karelia, Central Finland, South Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia and Kainuu, as well as the province of Uusimaa, except for the Helsinki metropolitan area.
 In community spread areas, dining establishments must close by 11 pm while those in acceleration areas may keep their doors open until 1 am.
 In the autonomous maritime province of Åland, bars and restaurants may be open from 5 am to 1 am but may only serve alcohol from 7 am to midnight.
 In the provinces of Northern Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, South Savo and Lapland, there are no separate restrictions on the number of customers or drinking and opening hours.
 No indoor dancing and karaoke in community spread phase
 In community spread areas, establishments where serving alcohol is the main business may only offer half of normal customer seating.
 Unlike before, the regulation now applies not only to the interior of restaurants but also to outdoor areas. In other restaurants, only 75 percent of the customer seats may be used, indoors and out.
 All customers must have their own seating at a table or similar level, both indoors and outdoors. In the areas of the community spread phase, there is also a ban on indoor dancing and karaoke, with customers told to remain in their seats.
 In acceleration areas, half of the customer seats can be used indoors at bars where alcohol is the main business. At other restaurants, 75 percent of capacity may be used indoors. Each customer must still have their own seat with a table or similar surface. There is no limit to the number of customer seats on outdoor terraces or in beer gardens.
 The latest restrictions do not apply to takeaway food sales, staff restaurants or dining facilities at petrol stations.

Restaurant restrictions tighten through much of Finland


Summary: On Sunday the THL reported the highest-ever daily total, after announcing an improbably low figure on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported that 1,322 new coronavirus infections had been diagnosed in Finland.
 That was by far the highest single-day case total ever, but includes infection figures from earlier in the weekend.
 On Saturday afternoon, the institute said it had technical problems in publishing data, which led to an incomplete figure being released around noon on Saturday.
 Shortly after noon on Sunday the THL said in a tweet: "Infection figures have now been corrected. The figure is higher than usual because it includes reporting for the period from 12:05 pm Friday to 06:05 am on Sunday".
 Weekend average similar to Friday figure
 The new-case figure published by THL on Saturday was just 165 new cases. That would have been the lowest daily tally since mid-July, and sharply lower than recent days.
 The daily number has been near or above 700 this past week, with 738 new infections reported on Friday.
 Averaging the Saturday and Sunday figures brings a figure just over Friday's total.
 Before Sunday, the highest daily number ever reported was 872, last Wednesday.
 In mid-March there was a daily high of 863, and early last December a peak of 840.
 Data to be confirmed on Monday
 The THL usually reports every day shortly before noon, reflecting the preceding 24-hour period.
 THL says that its data generation is automated over the weekend and that it will confirm the precise weekend figures on Monday. In any case, reported levels tend to be lower on Sundays and Mondays as fewer tests are carried out on weekends.
 A total of 112,207 infections have been diagnosed in Finland so far.
 THL also reported five new coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, after announcing none the day before. That brings the total to 991 fatalities since March 2020.
 According to THL, there are currently 100 coronavirus patients in hospital, 18 of whom are in intensive care.
 As of Sunday, 67.3 percent of the population had received at least one vaccine dose, with 38.6 percent fully inoculated.
 On Sunday, tighter restrictions on  bars and restaurants  took effect in much of Finland.
 13:43 Vaccination rates updated

Glitch in THL reporting of coronavirus infections causes sharp swings in weekend figures


Summary: The contents of the grave in southwest Finland have sparked debate for decades. Now DNA analysis has thrown a new option into the mix.

A 1,000-year-old grave unearthed in the late 1960s may upend long-held ideas around gender roles during the Iron Age, according to a  new study  by Finnish researchers.
 The grave in Suontaka, southwest Finland, was discovered during building work in 1968. It contained the remains of an individual who had been buried with at least one sword, commonly thought of as a conventionally masculine accessory, but who was wearing feminine clothes and jewellery.
 In the past, researchers argued that the Suontaka grave had been a double burial of a man and a woman, or that it had been the resting place of a female warrior - indicating that late Iron Age Finland had been home to strong female leaders.
 But a new DNA analysis has challenged both those theories, finding evidence to suggest that the grave contained the remains of just one person who may have had an extra X chromosome, a genetic condition which can cause people to develop both 'typically' male and female physical attributes.
 Story continues after image.
 A diagram of the discovery on the left with an artist's impression of the find, right Ulla Moilanen & Veronika Paschenko.
 "Our DNA analysis suggests that the individual may have had an aneuploid male karyotype XXY (Klinefelter syndrome). These new research results indicate that even in early medieval Finland, which is often considered a masculine and warlike society, there may have been individuals who did not fit into a binary gender model," the researchers wrote.
 A 'highly respected' non-binary individual
 Klinefelter syndrome affects around 1 in 660 males, although many will never be aware of their extra chromosome as the symptoms will be mild or unnoticeable.
 "Although a person with XXY chromosomes is usually anatomically a male, the syndrome may also cause e.g. breast growth, diminished muscle mass, or infertility," the researchers said.
 The researchers emphasised that while their conclusion was based on a small sample of damaged DNA, the high status burial and goods discovered in and near the grave backed up their case.
 Jewellery and a sickle were buried along with the individual Ulla Moilanen
 "The buried individual seems to have been a highly respected member of their community. They had been laid in the grave on a soft feather blanket with valuable furs and objects," said lead author  Ulla Moilanen  from the University of Turku.
 According to Moilanen, the person buried in Suontaka may have had a non-binary gender identity, a finding that suggests a nuanced approach to gender identity in Iron Age Finnish society.
 "If the characteristics of the Klinefelter syndrome have been evident on the person, they might not have been considered strictly a female or a male in the Early Middle Ages community. The abundant collection of objects buried in the grave is proof that the person was not only accepted but also valued and respected." Moilanen said.
 "However, biology does not directly dictate a person’s self-identity," she added.
 While it's not possible to tell for certain, the researchers speculated that the Suontaka individual's traditionally feminine clothing could indicate some symptoms of Klinefelter syndrome were present. These can include infertility in males, which would have set them apart in a society where masculinity was often defined by fathering children, the researchers wrote.
 "Pubertal changes—or the lack of them—could have led the individual being associated with a non-binary gender role," they wrote, while noting that "chromosomes do not define gender identities".
 According to the researchers, the findings of the Suontaka burial could indicate that Iron Age societies did not always conform to rigid gender norms.
 The initial discovery of the sword led to the grave being uncovered in 1968 Museovirasto
 It's possible that the individual in the grave was accepted as non-binary due to some higher social status - perhaps coming from a wealthy family - that granted them "more freedom and possibilities in expressing individual gender identities," the researchers wrote.
 A bronze-hilted sword, now in the collection of the National Museum of Finland, that was found at the gravesite was probably put there later, the researchers found, again showing that the individual may have been held in high esteem for years after their death.
 "The later addition of a spectacular sword in the grave possibly highlights the importance of the individual in the memory of the succeeding generation," they wrote.

1,000 year old grave contained non-binary Iron Age leader, researchers say


Summary: Serious accidents have continued despite last month's decision to lower speeds in urban areas at night.

Doctors at Helsinki University Hospital are calling for a ban on the use of electric scooters in the city on weekend nights.
 The vehicles are still overrepresented in accident statistics in the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district (HUS) despite last month's decision to lower speeds in some areas and timeframes.
 HUS said that more than two-thirds of e-scooter accidents treated by the Meilahti hospital's trauma unit this summer have occurred at night, and that 80 percent of patients suffering head injuries in e-scooter crashes were intoxicated at the time.
 Crashes have continued even though two of the largest e-scooter rental firms agreed in early July to  reduce speeds  on their two-wheelers in urban areas at night.
 According to HUS statistics, about 70 percent of the e-scooter accidents handled at the Meilahti minor trauma unit this summer occurred between 10 pm and 7 am.
 Arja Kobylin , Chief Physician of HUS's acute primary healthcare services, urges Transport Minister  Timo Harakka  to ban the use of rental electric scooters on weekends. The minister is to meet again with e-scooter firms again in late August to discuss safety. On Wednesday, a young woman was killed an  e-scooter accident  in the southwestern city of Turku.
 "Very costly for society"
 Kobylin also argues that drunk driving should be punished more severely. The vast majority of head injuries from e-scooter accidents treated at the Meilahti minor trauma unit have been alcohol-related.
 HUS said it has to lay on additional staff for weekends just to deal with e-scooter crashes.
 "Injuries caused by e-scooter accidents become very costly for society," Kobylin said.
 According to  Kustaa Lehtonen , a doctor at the Meilahti minor trauma unit, a ban on the use of e-scooters between 11 pm and 5 am could prevent a significant proportion of serious injuries.
 In June , Lehtonen estimated that a quarter of minor trauma patients admitted to the Meilahti emergency room were injured in e-scooter accidents.
 Kobylin said that out of 10 e-scooter accidents handled last weekend by the minor trauma unit, all but one occurred between 9 pm and 5 am.
 Six of the 10 patients suffered head injuries. Three of these were found to have alcohol in their bloodstream, but not all were tested.
 "Limiting speeds is not enough," Kobylin said.
 Between June 20 and July 21, a total of 82 e-scooter accidents and 56 bicycle accidents were handled at the Meilahti trauma unit. The accident rate has gone down slightly since May and June.
 According to Kobylin, the average age of those involved in e-scooter accidents is about 30, while some have been over 70.
 Drunk drivers only fined if they cause injuries
 Helsinki police mainly keep records of e-scooter accidents that lead to criminal reports, which average a few each month.
 E-scooters are classified as light electric vehicles and are subject to the same traffic rules as bicycles. For example, driving on the sidewalk or while intoxicated is prohibited.
 According to police sergeant  Pasi Tuominen , many users seem to be unfamiliar with the rules. Police are constantly receiving reports of e-scooter riders driving on the sidewalks.
 Besides better information, solutions would include limits on driving areas and speeding, especially at night, he says.
 "Sometimes e-scooter companies also place scooters where there are no bike paths nearby. It's unlikely that users would drag the scooter to a bike path," he said.
 E-scooters for rent in Helsinki are only designed for use by one person. However, doubling up on them is common.
 Drunken e-scooter riders who cause dangerous or near-miss situations can be fined for drunk driving. Fines begin at 40 euros.
 If a drunken individual does not cause an accident, the police cannot intervene. Undergoing breathalyser tests is also optional for e-scooter riders.
 According to Tuominen, a few basic rules of thumb can reduce the number or severity of accidents involving e-scooters:
 "Drive at a safe speed, stay off the sidewalks, use bike paths, don’t drive a one-way street in the wrong direction, don’t pick anyone up, and park sensibly. And remember to wear a helmet," he said.

Most Helsinki e-scooter injuries at night and while drunk; doctors call for weekend night-time ban


Summary: Finland's press reports on vaccines for 12- to 15-year-olds, a historic day for Tampere's tram and back to work anxieties.

Finland's highest circulation daily  Helsingin Sanomat  is among the many papers to report this morning that from Monday all 12- to 15-year-olds in Finland can receive a coronavirus vaccine. Previously only those within the age group considered to be in an at-risk group could get the jab.
 Vaccine specialist  Mika Rämet  of the Vaccine Research Centre at the University of Tampere, tells HS that it remains to be seen how many 12- to 15-year-olds will take up the opportunity to get vaccinated, but he points to a survey conducted by Statistics Finland which suggested that up to three-quarters of respondents said they wanted their children to be inoculated against the virus.
 "Personally, I think that vaccination among this age group will help to enable a return to normal life and provide protection against the virus. If the vaccine coverage is not high enough though, contact teaching and group hobbies may become difficult, as well as travelling abroad," Rämet tells HS.
 There are an estimated 250,000 12- to 15-year-olds in Finland, and HS writes that municipalities across the country have been making preparations to get as many of them vaccinated as quickly as possible, with plans for 'pop-up' vaccination points that do not require an appointment as well as the possibility that the jab will be provided at schools.
 Rämet says taking the vaccine is important for this age group because it will not only protect the young person themselves, but also their families and close circles.
 "Inevitably we will have coronavirus cases in the autumn, but what can be done here is for everyone to take care of their own protection against the virus in order to avoid, as much as possible, an increase in the need for hospital care, intensive care and deaths," he added.
 Tampere tram officially hits the track
 Tampere-based  Aamulehti  was up very early this Monday morning to catch the first official journey by the city's new tram, which left from Hervanta at the somewhat ungodly hour of 4.26am.
 The paper provided a live stream of the event, which showed that many bleary-eyed commuters were willing to brave the early hours and the morning rain to jump on board for the historic 'maiden voyage', using words such as "awesome" and "exciting" to describe the experience to AL's intrepid early morning reporter.
 The distinctive red trams have been snaking their way around the city's streets since late last year, but only on trial runs in advance of this morning's official start following a launch ceremony on Sunday, which the paper also  covered extensively .
 Outgoing city mayor  Lauri Lyly  (SDP) told AL that the tram would not just form a significant part of the city's transport network, but was also key to the future prospects and prosperity of the city itself.
 "We have a historic day on our hands today as we celebrate the opening of the first part of the tramway. The decision made in 2016 has become reality, and we can be proud of that," Lyly said. "The tram is not just the investment of the decade but the investment of the century."
 Don't panic, it's not November yet
 With many people in Finland returning to work this Monday morning, or already back into their normal routines, tabloid  Iltalehti  offers some advice on how to cope with the "anxiety" this may bring.
 After all, this was the second successive Covid summer, IL writes, which brings its own stresses and strains.
 "Summer has also been terribly hot, and hot apartments may mean that people have not slept very well," Occupational Psychologist  Annukka Merikallio  tells the tabloid.
 Merikallio says it is important that people feeling anxious about the coming autumn and winter months try to stay focused on the here and now.
 "It is not worth panicking now about how to cope in November. Right now everything is fine, and there is still nice weather outside. Think about things you can do to feel good every day," she says.

Monday's papers: Vaccinating teens, Tampere tram and the return to work


Summary: An estimated 20 people were involved in the incident on Sunday evening in front of the Silja Line terminal in the Port of Turku.

Police in Turku have launched a preliminary investigation into a mass brawl in the city's port area on Sunday evening.
 Tabloid Ilta-Sanomat reported that a fight involving an estimated 20 people broke out in front of the Silja Line terminal at about 6.30pm.
 Police said they have received one criminal report of a suspected assault related to the incident, but they are not currently aware of any serious injuries resulting from the fight.
 Chief Inspector  Riikka Laaksonen  told Yle that the fight had ended by the time police arrived at the scene and most of the suspected participants had already left.
 "The investigation has only just started. We will hear from the parties involved as well as witnesses first," Laaksonen said.

Police investigate mass brawl at Turku port


Summary: The summer of 2010 was not only the last time drowning figures were as high but also when Finland last experienced a summer as hot.

More than 65 people drowned in June and July this summer, according to the latest data gathered by the Finnish Swimming Education and Lifesaving Federation (FSL). This is the highest summer figure in eleven years.
 Some 79 people lost their lives due to drowning in June and July 2010.
 This year's July figures were a gloomy continuation of June's numbers. A total of 30 people drowned in June, the highest reading since June 1999.
 The FSL has been recording the drownings of people in Finland since 1999 with the data published once a month. Official figures on drownings can also be found in Statistics Finland's causes of death statistics.
 A clear connection between heatwave and drownings
 This summer has been  exceptionally warm  in much of the country. The number of days when the mercury passed the 25 degree mark in July was  well above the month's average .
 The same was observed in connection to the equally gloomy drowning figures recorded in the beginning of the last decade. The last time Finland experienced a July as warm in southern and eastern parts of the country was in 2010.
 "There is a clear connection between heat and drowning. That's when people want to go in or near the water, and the risks of drowning increase," FSL's Executive Director  Kristiina Heinonen  told Yle in July.
 According to FSL, some 100 to 150 people drown in accidents every year in Finland. Around a third of drownings occur while swimming, one third are water traffic accidents and another third are caused when people accidentally fall into water, Heinonen added.
 This year saw an increase in drownings of swimmers.

Drowning deaths reach 10-year high this summer


Summary: The federation's managing director urged policymakers to reduce tax burdens that she said limited consumers' purchasing powers.

Finland's anticipated so-called Covid pass will help to bolster the retail sector, once it is rolled out, according to the Finnish Commerce Federation's managing director  Mari Kiviniemi .
 If adopted, the Covid pass would function as official proof of administered vaccines, a recent negative coronavirus test result or recent recovery from the virus. Some countries have already started using similar certificates as a means of ensuring safety in crowded spaces like bars and restaurants, or for use on public transport.
 At a federation press conference held online on Monday, Kiviniemi said that Covid certificates would have an indirect impact on retail commerce.
 "As such, it would be good if the Covid pass could be implemented as soon as possible in order to open up society more and move more quickly towards normalcy," she said.
 Kiviniemi — a former Centre Party politician who also served as Finland's second female prime minister — said she was concerned about the financial burden that retailers carry, particularly in terms of taxation.
 She said the country's wage costs and taxes were forcing retailers to raise prices resulting in the dwindling purchasing power of consumers.
 "Our message to political decision-makers is that labour taxation must be reduced in the long term, because that would tax wedges and costs, but also improve purchasing power," she said.
 In simple terms, tax wedges refer to the difference between the salary paid by an employer and a worker's net pay, including government welfare benefits.
 3.5 percent growth in retail sales this year
 Unless significant coronavirus-related restrictions are imposed again in Finland, the country's retail sales will grow by 3.5 percent this year, according to the Finnish Commerce Federation.
 The commerce sector lobby group also forecasts that growth of retails sales will comparatively slow down next year to previous levels of around 1.5 percent.
 Although overall household consumption contracted during the coronavirus crisis, retail sales increased as business declined within several sectors, including transportation, leisure as well as the restaurant industry.
 Going forward, the group said that it did not anticipate that employment levels within the retail sector would return to the pre-crisis levels of 2019, however.
 Additionally, the federation said it doesn't expect retail jobs to grow over the next couple of years due to international and domestic competition forcing retailers to streamline operations through automation and digitalisation.
 Covid changed grocery sector
 The federation's chief economist,  Jaana Kurjenoja , said that the coronavirus crisis has already prompted permanent changes to the grocery industry.
 She said the sector will continue to compete more actively with, for example, the restaurant industry as well as lunch canteens.
 "If we compare the selection available in grocery stores now to before the crisis, we can see big differences," noting a marked increase in the availability of ready-to-eat meals as well as imported food items.
 Meanwhile, the work- and study-from-home situation facing many households during the epidemic led to people increasingly shopping for groceries online.
 At the end of last year both of Finland's biggest grocery store chains, S-Group and Kesko, reported a  sharp rise in online sales . The number of online grocery shopping options grew at an unexpected pace during the pandemic as well.
 Kesko reported  record-high sales  in April.

Finland's Covid pass will bolster retail sales, commerce lobby says


Summary: The Finnish expert says Monday's  climate change report 'underlines the urgency' of climate action.

Petteri Taalas , the Finn who leads the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), said on Monday that the world is on course to miss crucial climate change targets after the publication of the latest report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
 The report's main takeaways include the urgency of keeping the rise in global temperatures to a maximum of 1.5 degrees, the need for adaptation to the new reality as many of the effects of climate change are already irreversible, and reaching net zero emissions as soon as possible as human activity-related CO2 emissions are now known to warm up the planet.
 Speaking at the IPCC 2021 Report's press briefing, Taalas said that current emissions are making global warming much worse.
 According to the Finnish meteorologist, current global efforts are far from achieving the goals set by the Paris Climate Accord of keeping warming to between 1 and 2 degrees, regarded as the level at which humanity can adapt and mitigate climate change.
 One scenario in the report predicts warming of up to 8 degrees Celsius if limitations on emissions remain low.
 "At the UN our aim is to reach a 1.5 degrees-warming level which would be best for the welfare of mankind and the biosphere. Now we are heading towards 2 to 3 degrees warming instead," Taalas said. "The report underlines the urgency to enhance the ambition level of climate change mitigation."
 In one finding, the report revealed that the past five years have been the hottest on record since 1850.
 "Nobody is safe and it is getting worse faster," said under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme,  Inger Andersen , adding that "it's time to get serious because every ton of CO2 emission adds to global warming."
 Unequal effects of climate change
 The path towards a 1.5 degrees Celsius rise in average temperature is bringing increasingly unstable and extreme weather, including heatwaves, drought and storms, but these changes do not affect the whole planet equally, the report outlined.
 The rise in average temperatures in the Arctic, for example, is twice as high as the global average - possibly up to 4 times higher in the near future.
 Areas covered predominantly by land mass are warming at a faster rate than areas near the sea, while the northern hemisphere is warming faster than the southern.
 Changing attitudes towards climate change
 IPCC reports have historically come under fire for being both too 'dramatic' and 'too soft', according to Taalas. The WMO Secretary General thinks that that is evidence the report is heading in the right direction and said that he is confident in the credibility of the findings.
 "This is very much based on extremely solid science. It's not based on individual scientific papers but it's a balanced view of the majority of scientists and I am glad to encourage you to trust these results," Taalas said.
 Some 14,000 scientific publications were reviewed to produce the 2021 IPCC report.
 With the impacts of climate change becoming increasingly visible, Taalas said that politicians are finally starting to take science seriously compared to when IPCC reports first began to be published.
 "It was more theoretical back in the eighties, the impacts were not very visible. But now they are. And that's why we are in a much better position when it comes to mitigation. The problem is understood. The only question is how quickly are we able to react. And luckily we now have better technical means and financial means to be successful in mitigation. But we are not there yet," Taalas said.
 Taalas: Humanity must act before all hope is lost
 The latest IPCC report reflects the same message as the one published in 1979, but with much increased urgency; humanity must act now, Taalas said, adding that mitigation efforts thus far have not been enough to avoid food level production capacities, water shortages, extreme heat, forest fires, continued sea level rises, with the potential of a refugee crisis and consequential negative impacts on the world economy and biosphere.
 To the question of whether all hope is lost, Taalas answers with a "yes and no."
 "According to this report we still have a chance to stop the negative climate change during the middle of this century by especially limiting the use of fossil fuels and stopping deforestation. But some changes will continue for centuries or even thousands of years like sea level rises and melting of glaciers and thinning of arctic sea ice and snow cover," Taalas said.
 The 2021 IPCC report clearly states that some of the big changes brought by climate change are already irreversible or will be observed for a long time, regardless of whether we decide to act.
 "Besides climate mitigation it is essential to pay attention to climate adaptation since the negative change in the climate will continue for decades and in some cases for thousands of years. A quite powerful way to adapt to [climate change] is by investing in early warning, climate and water services," Taalas said.
 Only half of the current 193 members of the WMO (World Meteorological Organisations) have such services, according to the Finnish meteorologist, and there are also severe gaps in weather monitoring services worldwide.
 Taalas concluded that the decision makers need to raise their level of ambition and their willingness to work together, or "sportsmanship," adding that this report came out at a crucial time, three months prior to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP26.
 "The forthcoming COP26 meeting in Glasgow will be a critical milestone to combat climate change," he added.

Finnish WMO Secretary-General: IPCC report shows world heading towards 2-3 degrees of warming


Summary: The THL's chief physician Hanna Nohynek said she hopes that as many children and young people will get the jab — to protect themselves as well as others.

Finland began offering Covid vaccines to children aged 12-15 on Monday and decisions about whether or not to get the jab are left up to the kids themselves.
 Twelve-year-old  Otto Suksi  from the city of Vantaa was among the first of his age group to sign up for the vaccine.
 "I read in [newspaper] Helsingin Sanomat that vaccinations are being offered to my peer goup. I told my mother right away that I wanted to take it as soon as possible. If I get [Covid], it won't be too serious," he said.
 His mother did not oppose her son's decision.
 That choice is, at least in principle, being left up to the roughly 250,000 youngsters across Finland who belong to the 12-15 year-old age group.
 Following brief consultations, healthcare professionals will determine whether kids are capable of making such decisions, based on their age as well as their developmental level, according to  Hanna Nohynek , a vaccinologist and chief physician at the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
 "It depends on how mature the child is, whether they understand what's at stake and whether they want to make the decisions for themselves. If the care worker determines a child is mature enough and wants to make the decision, then it will be dealt with accordingly," Nohynek said.
 Consultations and decisions
 According to the country's Patient Act, people have the right to decide about medical treatment for themselves. So the issue needs to be handled on a case-by-case basis, she explained.
 "Children are very different in terms of development levels. Of course age gives some indication of that, but it's not the only factor," she said.
 During the vaccine consultation, healthcare workers will explain to youngsters what they are being vaccinated against , what the effects of Covid-19 are, as well as describe what the vaccine will do in terms of effectiveness and its potential harms
 "The children are asked if they've understood those things and if they have any questions. If they do, then they will be answered," she continued.
 Another 12-year-old from Vantaa,  Nooa Kaukinen , was the city's second person her age to sign up for the jab.
 "I had to read things about the vaccination and sign a form. [The document] explained possible symptoms after the vaccination," she said.
 If a young person is unwilling or unable to decide about whether to get the Covid vaccine, a parent or guardian needs to do it for them, either in writing or orally, chief physician Nohynek said.
 "However, in the majority of cases, the decision [of kids and their parents] is a common one — the child decides but also wants their parents' approval. It's less common that a child wants to make the decision completely on their own," she said.
 "If parents want their child to be vaccinated but the child doesn't, we try to reach an agreement through negotiation," Nohynek said, adding that no one is forcibly vaccinated in Finland.
 Ombudsman: No one should be pressured either way
 In an interview with Yle last week, the Ombudsman for Children,  Elina Pekkarinen , said that children and young people should be offered reliable and understandable information when making decisions about vaccinations. She added that kids should also be given opportunities to talk about the issue, especially if there are disagreements about the matter with their parents.
 "No one should be pressured into taking the vaccine, while at the same time no one should be forced to refuse it. The child has a right to self-determination, it's a question about their bodies and they must be able to independently make decisions," she said.
 Pekkarinen also noted that people's vaccine choices belong to personal medical records and that health information does not need to be shared with others.
 Meanwhile, the THL's Nohynek said she hoped as many children as possible would get vaccines to protect themselves and others around them.
 However, it is rare for Covid-19 to cause severe health complications among children and young people.
 The physician said that as of June, around 0.2 percent of 10-19 year-olds who got Covid required special medical care. A total of five patients in that age group needed intensive care.
 "Children are less likely to become seriously ill, but the possibility is there. The vaccines being used are effective and safe enough. However, weighing the pros and cons [about the matter] is good for everyone to do so they understand what is at stake," Nohynek said.
 Finland's national child vaccination task force is in the process of mapping the prevalence of severe and mild reactions to coronavirus infections among children under the age of 12, an effort also being carried out internationally.
 "Studies and a discussion about the pros and cons of vaccinating people under 12 are still ongoing, but if the vaccine receives approval to be used among them as well, then we will hopefully be ready to make immediate recommendations about vaccinating them," Nohynek said.

In Finland, kids choose whether or not to get Covid vaccine


Summary: Finland's press covers the reaction to the IPCC's landmark climate change report.

Many of Tuesday morning's papers carry reaction to the publication on Monday of a  landmark climate change report  by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
 In one of a series of articles tackling the subject, Helsingin Sanomat  interviews  Finland's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change  Krista Mikkonen  (Green) as she calls for global unity in the fight against climate change.
 "I think the important message from the climate report was that things are in our own hands. We can still prevent global warming from reaching over 1.5 degrees," Mikkonen tells HS, adding that she sees not just the threat posed by climate change, but opportunities for Finland and Finnish expertise as well.
 "Our pioneering position gives our companies a great opportunity to export their solutions around the world. Through the fight against climate change, we will be able to bring labour and export income into Finland," Mikkonen tells HS.
 HS also  takes to the streets  -- or more specifically to Helsinki's Market Square -- to hear what Helsinkians thought of the report's findings. While many call for clear guidelines for making climate-friendly lifestyle choices, Helsinki resident  Ilkka Hietala  references the coronavirus pandemic as an example of how decision-makers can take decisive action and people can adapt to changing circumstances for the greater good.
 "If people are treated properly and information is given to them, then they will start working," Hietala believes. "But people need to be treated equally and trusted to have brains."
 Lengthy queues as vaccine rollout extends to young teens
 Jyväskylä-based Keskisuomalainen  reports  of hours-long queues at a pop-up vaccination centre in the city on Monday as "eager" young people took up the opportunity to receive the Covid jab.
 From Monday, Finland  began offering  vaccines to the 12-15-year-old age group, with decisions about whether or not to get the jab  left up to the kids  themselves.
 "We came here a little before 8am. I thought we would be in good time but many others had apparently thought the same and there was already a queue," said Jyväskylä resident  Tuomas Mäkynen , who had brought both his son and his daughter to the vaccination centre.
 By 10am, they were still waiting, such was the congestion, with Chief Physician  Johanna Tuukkanen  telling KSML that about 500 young people had been vaccinated by Monday afternoon.
 "Such enthusiasm is a pleasant surprise," Tuukkanen said. "We hope that it will continue into the future."
 That enthusiasm was clearly evident in 13-year-old  Onni Auvinen , who received his first dose of the vaccine at the pop-up centre on Monday.
 "I am taking the vaccine to stop the coronavirus from spreading. I believe in the safety of vaccines for young people as well. The earlier you get the vaccine, the faster the protection against the virus will develop," he told KSML.
 Moomin mayhem
 Tabloid Iltalehti  reports  on queues of a very different kind on Monday as Finnish ceramics and design company Arabia released a limited edition Moomin mug to coincide with creator  Tove Jansson 's birthday, an  official flag day  in Finland.
 Arabia's PR and communications manager  Mirka Paasikangas  told Iltalehti that the mugs became available on two online stores, Moomin.com and Arabia's own online store, at midnight and were completely sold out 25 minutes later.
 Moomin mugs are a highly sought after collectible in Finland, and the frenzy then moved from the online space to the offline, with Iltalehti reporting that queues formed outside stores in cities such as Järvenpää, Vaasa and Jyväskylä before doors had even opened.
 Top of the queue outside the Citymarket in Palokka was  Katariina Jouhiaho .
 "I started queuing before 6am. This new Moomin mug is a rarity and a collectible," Jouhiaho told IL.
 Such is their popularity, purchases were limited to six mugs per customer, but this amount led to widespread criticism on social media as some unscrupulous buyers were apparently selling their excess mugs for highly-inflated prices.
 Iltalehti wrote that soon after the Moomin-approved online stores ran out of stock, some mugs began appearing on online marketplaces with an average asking price of 60 euros, and one seller even setting the starting price at 250 euros.
 The original price of each mug is 29.90 euros.
 It could be noted that the stress involved in trying to acquire one of these collectibles is -- somewhat ironically -- in sharp contrast to the idyllic scene illustrated on the mug itself of Moomintroll and Moominmamma sitting on a bridge waiting patiently for Snufkin’s return.

Tuesday's papers: Climate report reaction, vaccine enthusiasm and Moomin mug mania


Summary: Finland has set a goal of being carbon neutral by 2035.

Finland's Interior Minister and chair of the Green Party  Maria Ohisalo  has demanded that the government's coalition partners make the necessary decisions on climate policy during budget negotiations scheduled for the autumn.
 This includes policies aimed at reducing the amount of emissions from agriculture, Ohisalo added, as Finland  seeks to become carbon neutral  by 2035.
 "I would like to mention one example that has been left on the sidelines. Many sectors have already done much to combat climate change. Many individuals have done a lot, but agriculture is a sector that has not yet been able to reduce emissions over recent years," Ohisalo said during an appearance on Yle TV1's A-studio current affairs programme on Monday evening.
 The minister added that there are many ways the agricultural sector could reduce emissions, including from the use of certain machinery and the burning of peat.
 Ohisalo was speaking after the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a  comprehensive report  on Monday underlining the urgency of combating climate change, and her comments are likely to lead to clashes with government coalition partner the Centre Party, which traditionally has a rural support base.
 The IPCC report said that it will not be possible to halt the rise in average global temperatures without significant reductions in emissions.
 The National Coalition Party's (NCP) vice-chair  Antti Häkkänen  also appeared on Monday evening's episode of A-studio, and said that the Finnish farmer's union MTK has already expressed concern about climate change.
 "In agriculture, it is worth looking for models in which both the climate and the farmer wins," Häkkänen said.
 The NCP and the Green Party both support proposals aimed at keeping the rise in global temperatures to the 1.5 degrees target, with Häkkänen arguing that his party's policies demonstrate confidence in the market, people's own choices and technology.
 "No matter what action the Finnish government takes, it will not stop climate change. This will only be addressed through international cooperation, as key countries and regions will all commit to reducing emissions," he said.
 Ohisalo added that her party would be willing to an even more ambitious carbon neutrality target for Finland.
 "Finland can be more prominent in terms of climate issues," Ohisalo said.

Ohisalo: Government must agree on climate goals during budget negotiations


Summary: Schools and daycares open their doors again this week after the summer break, but for the thousands of toddlers born during the pandemic it will be a leap into the socialising unknown.

Although going back to school will feel like business as usual for most kids returning to classrooms across the country this week, starting early education may feel particularly challenging this year for the thousands of children born during the pandemic
 Heinävesi 6th graders  Ukko Sallinen  and  Veeti Saren  said that returning to school on Tuesday felt "typical" and "not too strange." The boys, who have been in education for five years now, and told Yle that it was especially "nice to see friends again."
 In contrast however, parents of Covid era babies are worried about how their children will adapt to a social environment when all they've known is a life of social distancing.
 Brothers  Hugo  and  Luka Manninen  were born around the same time as the borders of Uusimaa were cut off from the rest of the country in spring 2020, and the world has been battling with the coronavirus pandemic throughout the entirety of their lives.
 The children have met fewer strangers than their peers would have usually met by now, and starting daycare where they will be surrounded by lots of unfamiliar faces may feel daunting.
 "Daycare services for families with children were not available due to the coronavirus pandemic. There were small, but at the same time quite big, factors affecting everyday life right from the start," the mother of the twins  Nea Martemaa  recalled.
 Starting daycare always a big step
 In the yard of the local daycare, the boys are suddenly surrounded by a big group for the first time in their lives. Martemaa tried to make the transition of starting daycare easier for the children by taking Hugo, Luka and their older sister to play in the yard prior to their first day.
 "I've been trying to tell the boys that daycare is starting. Their answer to everything is always "sausage," so I don’t know if the message got through," the mother laughed.
 Early childhood education experts are, however, not too worried. University of Helsinki professor  Lasse Lipponen  told Yle that beginning early childhood education is in any case a big change for a small child even under normal conditions, and children are adaptable. The most important thing for them is caring adults and safe friendships.
 Story continues after photo.
 Newcomers and educators at Aamurusko daycare. Antro Valo / Yle
 Young children have not suffered from restricted contact like adults, the expert adds.
 "The social circles of young children are much narrower. Their close circle feels the most important," Lipponen said.
 The strain of a restricted social life and the ensuing anxiety is felt by children mainly through adults. It is thus the anxiety of adults that children usually sense, according to the director of Aamurusko Steiner Daycare,  Sanna Jacksen .
 "When adults are well and take care of themselves, children are also well," Jacksen said.
 Long-term impacts of restricted life on children still unclear
 The social and psychosocial effects of the pandemic on children have not yet been studied in Finland to a large extent, although concerns about the impact on children’s well-being and mental health have often been the subject of public debate.
 "The direct effects of the coronavirus pandemic on well-being are quite difficult to verify but there probably are some consequences," professor Lipponen said.
 According to global studies, children and poor families in poor countries are most affected by the pandemic.
 "On a global scale, we are quite lucky and well-off in Finland. Affluent and middle-income families will often find the help they might need. Attention should be focused on disadvantaged families and how to support them," Lipponen added.
 Early childhood educator Sanna Jacksen is further worried about the lack of interaction brought by face coverings.
 "We'll need to be vigilant and cautious about the effects that all of this will have in the longer term and come up with support measures," the director of the kindergarten said.
 Story continues after photo.
 Director of Aamurusko Steiner Daycare, Sanna Jacksen. Antro Valo / Yle
 The long-term effects of exceptional circumstances on children and families are still difficult to assess. The consequences will not be investigable until about 10 years from now, according to the experts.
 Prohibitions and precautions aside, the guidelines of the Board of Education remind educators that feelings of closeness, safety and interaction with adults are especially important for young children and that daycares in particular should thus strive for circumstances resembling everyday life as much as possible.
 "We really do not cut back on embracing, nor contact, nor intimacy. We hope that children are carefree and fearless. And that they can trust that we adults are taking care of things and good care of them," Jacksen said.

Pandemic babies 'dive into the deep end' as daycare starts


Summary: A woman in her twenties died following a collision between an e-scooter and a bus in the city last week.

Police in Turku announced on Tuesday that they have made progress in the investigation into the  death of a young woman  after an incident downtown involving an e-scooter and a bus last week.
 The driver of the bus is suspected of negligent homicide as well as endangerment of traffic safety, police said.
 The bus was moving along Uudenmaankatu at the intersection of Hämeenkatu in the centre of the city, headed towards the Kupittaa neighbourhood, when the young woman on the e-scooter crossed over Uudenmaankatu along the extension of a cycle path.
 Story continues after photo.
 Emergency services at the scene of the accident last week. Kimmo Gustafsson / Yle
 She was then hit by the bus and died at the scene, according to police.
 Police said they viewed surveillance camera video footage of the incident captured in the area, and they have also spoken to witnesses.
 The investigation is still ongoing and is expected to be completed within the coming months, according to police.

Turku bus driver suspected of negligent homicide in fatal e-scooter accident


Summary: The highly publicised debacle prompted the resignation of the National Emergency Supply Agency's CEO last year.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Tuesday it has closed a preliminary investigation into a case involving the state stockpile agency's acquisition of millions of euros worth of faulty protective face masks at the beginning of the global pandemic last year.
 The law enforcement agency said that the case was now being handed over to the prosecutor, but the NBI did not reveal the identities of the two individuals suspected of aggravated fraud.
 The NBI opened a preliminary investigation into the matter in April 2020, in which the National Emergency Supply Agency (Nesa) paid businessman  Onni Sarmaste  and entrepreneur  Tiina Jylhä  10 million euros for a delivery of face masks from China to be used by healthcare workers.
 However the masks turned out to be faulty and taken out of use shortly after reports of  allergic reactions  caused by the personal protection devices. Later, the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland determined that the masks did not meet the standards for hospital use.
 Jylhä's legal representative,  Kari Uoti , has previously said that his client was not a suspect in the face mask case.
 However, after the investigation began Sarmaste told Yle that there were "indications" that he was a suspect and  acknowledged  that he had been detained by police.
 Previously, Sarmaste operated an instant-loan company before running heavily into debt himself.
 On Tuesday the NBI's chief investigator in the case,  Mikko Laaksonen , explained that the results of the preliminary probe clarified whether the face mask providers had given incorrect or inadequate information to Nesa which would have been relevant to the procurement decision as well as damaging to the agency.
 Helsinki District Court previously extended the deadline for filing charges in the case to August of this year.
 Other charges that police separately investigated in the case were dropped due to lack of evidence, including aggravated money laundering, embezzlement and abuse of trust, according to the NBI.
 Last spring, the NBI announced that a separate investigation into the purchase of the faulty masks was being forwarded to prosecutors, and that three Nesa employees were suspected of official abuse of trust.
 The highly publicised debacle prompted the resignation of the National Emergency Supply Agency's managing director,  Tomi Lounema , last year.

NBI wraps up face mask acquisition probe, 2 suspected of aggravated fraud


Summary: Finland's top auditor had spent more than 5,000 euros on hairdressing and beauty services.

Finland's former Auditor-General  Tytti Yli-Viikari  has lodged an appeal with Helsinki Administrative Court against her sacking after parliament's oversight committee found her expenses claims problematic.
 She had to be removed by a vote of MPs in parliament, after months of reporting on her apparently lavish spending on travel and other services while heading up the National Audit Office.
 The court told news agency STT that Yli-Viikari had lodged an appeal against her sacking at the end of July.
 The former rugby union coach is also under investigation by police on suspicion of misusing air miles accrued during her official trips, as well as a work contract she drew up that allowed an official to be paid a salary for two years without doing any work.
 She was suspended by parliament's budgetary committee in April, when it emerged that the police were looking at the case.
 Her replacement is due to be named in the autumn. Matti Okko is currently serving as acting Auditor-General.

Expense-scandal auditor Yli-Viikari appeals sacking


Summary: Twenty coronavirus infections have so far been traced to the Kuopiorock festival and local health authorities are concerned there may be hundreds more.

Around 20 infections have already been traced to the Kuopiorock music festival, which was held in the city over three days at the end of July and attended by thousands of people.
 Local health authorities have reported that they are expecting hundreds more infections to be traced to the event, especially if people do not follow safety guidelines.
 "This is just the beginning. It was known that this would happen and that infections would arise," infectious disease physician  Raija Savolainen  said.
 She added that it is not possible to know with certainty if the infections originated at the event itself or from other activities such as concertgoers frequenting bars or restaurants in the city.
 Cases rising
 Coronavirus infections in the Kuopio region have increased steadily in recent days as authorities' attempts to trace the origins of the the new cases have been hampered.
 Health authorities in the region said infected people are usually contacted within one day, but infection tracers are not able to identify or contact all those who were possibly exposed to the virus.
 According to Savolainen, a big challenge for the tracing team is that people do not answer their phones even if they are waiting for information about a test result. This takes an unreasonable amount of resources away from an otherwise small team of tracers, Savolainen said.
 "Even over the weekend there were a couple of cases that had to be called dozens of times before being tracked down. Apparently, some people don't want information about exposures or infection even if they know they're supposed to wait for a call about test results," she said.
 Savolainen said the coronavirus situation was deteriorating for a number of different reasons, including because people are tiring of following safety guidelines.
 "The main reason though, is the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, which is currently spreading rapidly among young people, for example at events," she said.
 No plans to restrict large events
 Events scheduled for this week in Kuopio, including the International Grand Markets in the city's market square and the Hoodfest urban music festival scheduled for this weekend, can still go ahead as planned, according to the City of Kuopio, despite the deteriorating coronavirus situation in the city.
 City authorities said there are no plans at this stage to place restrictions on the holding of large events, such as limiting the number of attendees.
 "We strive to follow national guidelines and the guidelines for lighter restrictions, and to respect Avi's [the Regional State Administrative Agency] decisions not to restrict events," Kuopio Deputy Mayor  Jari Saarinen  told Yle.

Infection tracing backlog in Kuopio after thousands attend music festival


Summary: Finland's Nordic neighbour Sweden is considering administering a third jab to people in some risk groups as early as this autumn.

As the coronavirus epidemic continues, some countries around the world have started discussing the idea of administering a second Covid booster vaccination.
 But it is not yet time for Finland to consider such a move, according to  Hanna Nohynek , chief physician of the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), who said the current two doses have proven to be effective.
 The Pfizer-Biontech vaccine has an 84 percent efficacy rate six months after the second dose is administered, according to the jab's manufacturer, which the vast majority of people in Finland has or will receive.
 Meanwhile, the efficacy of the Covid vaccine produced by Moderna is as high as 93 percent after six months.
 "In light of this data, there is no rush to get a third dose, but of course we need to gather information and see whether there may be some groups who need boosters in the autumn," Nohynek said.
 Finland's Nordic neighbour Sweden is considering administering a third jab to people in some risk groups as early as this autumn, according to the Swedish health authority.
 10% of kids aged 12-15 vaccinated
 Around 10 percent of 12-15-year-olds in Finland have already been vaccinated against Covid-19, according to Nohynek.
 Nohynek explained that youths in that age bracket who belonged to Covid risk groups began being vaccinated earlier this summer. Meanwhile, Finland began offering the vaccinations to 12-15-year-olds not in risk groups on Monday.
 Schools across much of Finland open their doors for classroom teaching this week. The chief physician and vaccinologist said she hoped that vaccination rates among children and young people will be high this autumn.
 "When we asked parents in the spring if they would permit their children to be vaccinated, two-thirds said they would. If the children agree with their parents, then there are hopes for a very high percentage [being vaccinated] as we head into autumn," Nohynek said, referring to Finland's policy of  allowing underage people to decide  whether or not to take vaccinations on their own.
 Regulators have not yet approved Covid vaccinations for children under the age of 12, which also affects people in risk groups. Nohynek said she anticipated that could happen this year.

THL chief doc: Not yet time for second Covid boosters in Finland