Summary: The Finnish president and his or her spouse usually greet up to 2,000 guests at the annual gala.

Due to the Covid situation, invitations to this year's Independence Day gala at Helsinki's Presidential Palace on 6 December will be limited to 200 guests, President  Sauli Niinistö  announced on Wednesday.
 Under normal circumstances, the Finnish president and his or her spouse greet up to 2,000 guests at the annual gala, but last year the event was  called off entirely  due to the epidemic.
 At a press briefing about the event, Niinistösaid so-called 'regular guests' will not be invited to the event this year, but a handful of the country's numerous health professionals will be honoured at the celebration instead.
 The invitations have not yet been sent, and further information about the guest list is scheduled to be announced next week. Niinistö said that most of the guests have not attended the event previously.
 Acknowledging that new Covid-related restrictions could still be imposed in southern Finland, the president said the guest list could end up being further shortened.
 He said that Covid passes will not be required of those in attendance, but that the matter depended on the law.
 The tradition of the president and spouse greeting each guest with a formal handshake will not be in practice this year, with Niinistö and his wife  Jenni Haukio  expected to greet guests in other ways. It is still unclear whether the tradition of dancing will be in practice this year, as well.
 Normally, the event also pays tribute to the country's war veterans, but this year a separate event will be arranged for that purpose.
 Yle's Independence Day broadcasts are traditionally one of the most-watched television events of the year. Two years ago the broadcasts reached around three million people.

Finland to downsize Independence Day gala, honour healthcare workers


Summary: The project run by the Deaconess Foundation aims to support radicalised individuals as they disengage from violent movements and ideologies.

A de-radicalisation project run by human rights NGO the Deaconess Foundation may have to end due to a lack of funding.
 The  Exit project  has been running for about one year and aims to support radicalised individuals as they disengage from violently extremist movements and ideologies.
 The project has helped about 38 people throughout the past year and currently has 17 active participants.
 Similar de-radicalisation projects are run by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as well as by the Finnish Criminal Sanctions Agency. However, according to  Ilkka Kantola  of the Deaconess Foundation, the NGO's model has certain advantages over those run by the authorities.
 "Violent extremism can involve strong tensions with government agencies, which can in turn raise the threshold for seeking help. For a third sector organisation, that threshold is lower and the foundation for building trust is slightly stronger," Kantola explained.
 Participants from extremes of religion, ideology
 The concept of violent extremism is not confined to any one single religion or ideology, but can be associated with very different and even polar opposite factions, such as Islamic extremists and neo-Nazi movements.
 The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the US defines violent extremism as the "encouraging, condoning, justifying, or supporting the commission of a violent act to achieve political, ideological, religious, social, or economic goals".
 The worlds of violent extremism are typically divided into violent extremism based on religion or ideology, violently extremist alternative movements, and violent single-issue movements.
 The Deaconess Foundation was not willing to release any information on the backgrounds of the people who had participated in the Exit project, saying it is unnecessary to apply labels to participants.
 "Client-led contacts have come from both the religious and ideological sides," the foundation's specialist  Onni Sarvela  told Yle, adding that the activities carried out by the project are quite varied and diverse.
 "Sometimes we go out together to try new hobbies, or find new groups or communities to join. Sometimes we even put furniture together and talk things through at the same time," he said.
 Previous project also ended prematurely
 A previous version of the Exit project, called Radinet, was established and run by the Vuolle Settlement’s anti-violence service in Oulu in 2016.  Esa Holappa , a former neo-Nazi who had been the leader of the Finnish Resistance Movement (FRM) was one of the project's mentors.
 The project began successfully, with about 80 people registering during the first 12 months, until the organisers could not secure additional funding and the project was discontinued.
 The Deaconess Foundation's Exit project now faces a similar fate, as current funding will only support the project until the end of this year.
 "There is no certainty about the future at this stage. From the point of view of the effectiveness of the project, it would be necessary for funding to be secured," Kantola said.

De-radicalisation programme funds running out, NGO says


Summary: Finland reported 1,151 new Covid infections on Wednesday, meaning there have been about 11,000 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases over the past two weeks.

The City of Vaasa's Chief Physician  Heikki Kaukoranta  has called on authorities to introduce mandatory vaccination for every resident in Finland aged 12 years and above.
 Kaukoranta told Yle he is concerned about the rapidly increasing number of infections across the country, saying a compulsory vaccination order would be the solution.
 He added that the current measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus are proving to be insufficient.
 "It can be seen that the need for hospital care is increasing and the currently available measures will not curb the spread," Kaukoranta said, adding that Finland's legislation would allow for the government to make such a compulsory order.
 "Section 47 of the Communicable Diseases Act allows for the imposition of vaccination in a situation where an infectious disease threatens the functioning of society," he said.
 This would in turn pass the responsibility for being vaccinated from the individual to the state.
 "It is up to the individual citizen to consider, for example, whether vaccination is safe or whether vaccination is potentially harmful. In that case [of a mandatory order], the state bears the responsibility and is also responsible for any future adverse effects," Kaukoranta said.
 About 20 percent of Finland's population aged 12 and above are currently not fully vaccinated, a figure Kaukoranta believes is too high. The mandatory vaccination order should therefore come into force as soon as possible, he said.
 "The sooner the better. Especially now that we are seeing that the Covid situation in Europe is deteriorating. Vaccines are available in the [Finnish] state and vaccinations can be arranged," he said.
 Case numbers rising
 Finland reported 1,151 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic to 172,373.
 Public health authority THL has now registered around 11,000 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases over the past two weeks, which is approximately 3,100 more infections than during the previous 14-day period.
 Hospitalisations are also on the rise, with 299 Covid patients in hospitals across the country, 38 of whom in intensive care, as of Wednesday. The latest figures reflect increases of six more people in hospital and two in ICU since Monday.

Top doc calls for Covid vaccine mandate as case numbers escalate


Summary: A Parliamentary committee's recommendation that Finland vote against the EU's Climate Delegated Act has caused a rift between the governing coalition parties.

Forestry has become a  key topic of debate  following a parliamentary committee's decision that Finland should not support the European Commission's proposal for a climate classification system establishing a list of sustainable economic activities, according to tabloid  Iltalehti  (IL).
 The Finnish government may therefore vote against the EU's Climate Delegated Act, as it would harm Finland's financing prospects, IL reports.
 "Even though we advocate for ambitious climate policy, and Finland is known for that, there are some country-specific details affecting both Finland and Sweden which are particularly problematic for us, and therefore Finland and Sweden will choose to vote against the proposal," European Affairs Minister  Tytti Tuppurainen  (SDP) told the tabloid.
 The Europe Minister said that Finland would have preferred that EU member states were more involved during the preparation of the proposal, adding that the current form of the Act leaves excess room for interpretation.
 "We do not want forestry to drift into a gray area, where there are ambiguities as to whether certain types of forest management are sustainable or not," Tuppurainen added.
 Green Party MEP  Ville Niinistö  said he was disappointed with the government's line, adding that some of the argumentation behind the decision was "false," according to IL.
 The paper adds that according to Niinistö, Finland would like to classify all existing industries as sustainable, because it is an important industry for the country's finances.
 "If all activities are classified as green, then those who really invest in clean technology and solutions will lose, and those that do not will win. It is not in the interest of the future of the industry itself," Niinistö said.
 Niinistö insisted that the European Commission aims to curb greenwashing and make it easier for companies to identify the most environmentally friendly practices, the tabloid reports.
 Anna Berner steps down as director of Vallila Interior
 Former Minister of Transport and Communications,  Anne Berner , has "unexpectedly" announced she will no longer be employed by Vallila Interior,  Ilta-Sanomat  (IS) reports.
 The move comes after the ownership of the popular design company was handed over to new design group Manna & Co. along with Finlayson and Makia Clothing last May.
 Manna & Co chief executive  Mikko Koponen  said Anne Berner stepped aside of her own will, adding that Berner will continue to co-own the company, according to the tabloid.
 "The solution to move on with my career was mine and the transition was agreed in good spirits with Mikko Koponen," Berner told IS, explaining her decision to step down via email.
 Finnish football "doing well"
 The Finnish football scene is "doing well," according to Tampere-based daily  Aaamulehti  (AL), despite the national team's defeat to France on Tuesday evening.
 Although the men's football team's loss of 2-0 signalled the end of  Huuhkajat's  (Eagle Owls') efforts to reach the World Cup finals for the first time ever, Aamulehti writes that this has still been a great year for the team, citing the team's synergistic qualities.
 "As individuals, the majority of players are of average level. Huuhkajat are however, above all, a team that functions well as a whole, in which each player gives their all in each match," the daily writes.
 Aaamulehti further reports that Tuesday's game attracted a grand total of 30,000 paying spectators, who no longer come only to see international stars play, but also the likes of  Teemu Pukki ,  Lukas Hrádecký  and  Glen Kamara .
 This is a very promising sign for Finnish football and the support culture, according to AL.

Thursday's papers: Forestry dispute, high-profile resignation, football synergy


Summary: Larger municipalities, with populations of 100,000 or more, saw the price of older detached homes rise by 5.8 percent compared to the third quarter of 2020.

The prices of older, single-family houses rose by an average of 5.5 percent during the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary data released by Statistics Finland on Thursday morning.
 However, prices were down by 0.9 percent compared to Q2 of 2021.
 Statistics Finland’s index of real estate prices further revealed that the largest price increase between July and September, 8.9 percent, was in municipalities with populations of between 20,000 and 60,000 people.
 Larger municipalities, with populations of 100,000 or more, saw the price of older detached homes rise by 5.8 percent compared to the third quarter of 2020 while smaller municipalities — with populations of 20,000 people or less — saw prices rise by a more modest 3.5 percent.
 In total, around 4,940 older, single-family houses were sold during the third quarter of this year, which is about two per cent fewer than in the corresponding period of last year.
 Prices of new detached houses rose by 5.7 percent during Q3 compared to July-September 2020. This figure was also up, by 3.4 percent, on the previous quarterly period.

Prices of older detached houses up 5% during Q3


Summary: The deadline for submitting candidate lists for the county council election is 14 December, with the vote scheduled for 23 January 2022.

Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (SDP)

Finland's main political parties are stepping up their efforts to recruit as many candidates as possible with the county council election just over two months away.
 Voters will go to the polls on 23 January 2022 to elect regional assembly members that will have responsibility for the provision of social and healthcare services.
 Check out Yle News' very simple guide to the election  here  to find out more about the upcoming vote.
 Yle asked the party secretaries of each parliamentary party how the process of recruiting candidates has progressed so far, with most reporting a "smooth flow" of willing candidates.
 All of the major parties also said they are aiming for full candidate lists to stand in all 21 welfare regions, which would mean about 1,700 candidates per party.
 The deadline for submitting candidate lists is 14 December.
 Currently the two most popular parties in the country — the opposition National Coalition Party (NCP) and Prime Minister  Sanna Marin 's Social Democratic Party (SDP) — already have signed up over one thousand candidates each, while the Finns Party and the Centre Party both have about a thousand candidates already registered.
 The party secretaries from the NCP, the Finns Party and the Centre all said they were confident they would reach the target of 1,700 candidates, while the SDP predicted reaching "at least 95 percent".
 "In Kainuu, for example, filling that list will be a tough task, because we have to find more candidates than we had in the municipal elections. On the other hand, larger areas have more candidates than they can accommodate," SDP's party secretary  Antton Rönnholm  told Yle.
 Story continues after the graphic.
 Among the other parties, the Left Alliance reported that it has so far recruited just under one thousand candidates while governing coalition partner the Green Party has about 700 names on the list.
 Both the Left Alliance and the Greens told Yle they did not expect to submit full lists, especially in the smaller welfare regions.
 Most of the smaller parties have recruited a few hundred candidates each. For example, the Swedish People's Party (SPP) has about 250 candidates, which is quite close to the party's target of 300.
 Quality not quantity
 In municipal elections, the number of candidates that parties can put on their lists can be a significant determining factor in the outcome of the vote, with each party working to the general hypothesis that the more candidates, the better.
 However, the logic for the regional elections will be different as there is less pressure on parties to fill the lists as with the municipal elections.
 In some high-population regions, for example, the maximum size of the list is even more of a constraint as not everyone who wants to run as a candidate can do so. Therefore, from the point of view of the parties, the quality of the candidates will be the key challenge.
 "We will look to get candidates on the list who cover a diverse range by gender, age, profession and regional distribution," the Centre's party secretary  Riikka Pirkkalainen  said.
 The parties will need both well-known politicians as well as specialists in the fields of social, healthcare and emergency services on their lists.
 Another key consideration will be the strategic distribution of candidates. For example, a candidate in a large city can collect more votes than a candidate in a small municipality.
 However, the voter should also be offered a local option in as many municipalities as possible.
 "We need young, old and working-age people. There is a need for social and healthcare professionals, those working in the business world as well as entrepreneurs," the NCP's party secretary  Kristiina Kokko  said.
 18-year-old politician: This is "everyone's election"
 Each party also cited one fundamental challenge when recruiting candidates: it is not easy to inspire the youngest age groups to get involved in politics.
 In the case of the regional elections in particular, this type of vote is the first of its kind in Finland and the role of the county councils is still unclear to many people.
 "How do we attract those young people to get involved in activities that are not always that nice. It is often about working on difficult and controversial issues," Finns Party secretary  Arto Luukkanen  said.
 Story continues after the photo.
 Swedish People's Party (SPP) candidate Florenta Dushi. Petteri Bülow / Yle
 However,  Florenta Dushi , a candidate for the Swedish People's Party in the southern city of Porvoo, believes she has the answer. Despite being only 18 years old, this will be Dushi's second election, as she previously ran in the municipal elections in June.
 "Sote [social and healthcare services] issues are everyone's business. In the welfare regions, it will be decided what kind of services the residents of the area receive and how they get access to treatment. This is everyone's election. It is important that young people participate and make their voices heard," she said, adding that the provision of mental health services, for example, should be of particular importance to younger people.
 "Young people discuss and have opinions on these issues. Young people are interested, but they need to be encouraged to get involved in politics," Dushi said.

Political parties recruiting candidates for "everyone's" election


Summary: Finland's vaccination coverage has slowed over the past week as authorities registered a record high number of daily cases on Thursday.

Unvaccinated individuals are 33 times more likely to require intensive care unit (ICU) treatment than double-jabbed people, and 19 times more likely to need hospital care, according to figures released on Thursday by public health authority THL.
 The data, published during the weekly coronavirus briefing jointly hosted by THL and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on Thursday morning, further revealed that the number of unvaccinated people currently receiving hospital care in Finland is disproportionately high.
 Some 14 percent of the population of the country are currently unvaccinated, yet they account for about 70 percent of patients being treated in hospitals for the virus.
 Double-jabbed people also require hospital care, at least to some extent, THL added. However, most of these patients have an underlying condition that affects their health. A third booster dose is being rolled out for this particularly vulnerable group.
 Vaccination coverage slowing, infections rising
 Finland's vaccination rate has slowed in recent weeks, according to THL and health ministry data, noting that the number of first and second doses administered last week was especially low.
 Meanwhile, infections are spreading as people are meeting in larger groups.
 THL registered some 5,900 coronavirus infections last week, a record weekly high and an increase from about 5,100 the previous week.
 The infection rate is increasing in almost every region of Finland, and more than half of the country's hospital districts are now considered to be in the spreading phase of the epidemic.
 There are still about 671,000 unvaccinated people over the age of 12 years.
 Record high number of infections on Thursday
 Shortly after the conclusion of the Thursday morning press conference, THL confirmed that 1,259 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases had been registered over the past 24 hours.
 This is the highest number of daily cases reported throughout the entire Covid epidemic.
 Finland's overall total number of infections since the beginning of the epidemic now stands at 173,632.
 The authority also reported 10 further deaths linked to the virus since yesterday, bringing Finland's toll from the virus to 1,246.
 There are also currently 299 people receiving hospital care for the virus, of whom 38 are in intensive care units.

THL: Unvaccinated people 33 times more likely to need ICU treatment


Summary: The 180 million euro-project will need to be approved by the City Council to move forward.

The plan for a new traffic tunnel in the Sörnäinen area of the capital is moving forward after the Helsinki City Board voted on Thursday morning to advance the proposal to the City Council.
 The project, which has fuelled a years-long heated political debate, received a narrow 8-7 victory from the City Board. The plan was supported by the National Coalition Party (NCP), one of two Social Democratic Party (SDP) representatives, the Finns Party, the Swedish People’s Party, the Christian Democrats and Movement Now.
 The proposal was opposed by the Greens and the Left Alliance.
 The tunnel project has caused conflict between the parties on the board, with the vote to advance the project being postponed as recently as  early this week.
  SDP split on decision
 Reports on the impact on traffic, both with or without the proposed tunnel, were presented at the board's meeting.
 Earlier this week, SDP deputy mayor,  Nasima Razmyar , demanded that the vote be postponed until further information was provided on how traffic in the area would be structured, in case that the tunnel would not be built.
 Razmyar expressed concern over the project possibly being abandoned without consideration to the negative impact its absence would have on traffic.
 The tunnel has been the cause of friction within the SDP. Even on the City Board, the party is divided. The fear among the SDP's council group leadership was that the split could have resulted in the tunnel not receiving the support it needed to move forward.
 Now, however, the tunnel project advances to the City Council, which will vote on its necessity and potential construction.
 City of Helsinki in favour of project
 While the tunnel has sparked heavy debate among the parties, the reports issued by the City of Helsinki are supportive of the project. According to studies conducted by the city, traffic would become unmanageable without the proposed tunnel.
 Those opposing the project however claim that the tunnel would result in an increase, not a reduction, in traffic.
 The intent of the tunnel is to facilitate north-south traffic, by moving car traffic -- particularly around Kalasatama, Suvilahti and Teurastamo -- below ground. This would allow for significant improvements to foot traffic and public transportation above ground.
 Construction of the controversial tunnel has been scheduled to begin as early as next year. The current cost estimate for the 1.6-kilometre tunnel is approximately 180 million euros. If the project is approved and moves ahead as planned it could be opened for traffic in the early 2030s.

Helsinki's City Board approves plan for new traffic tunnel


Summary: Event organisers can however ask attendees to show a Covid pass in order to gain entry as an alternative to complying with the new measures.

The Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland (Avi) has announced the reintroduction of restrictions on public events in the Uusimaa region, specifically in so-called 'high-risk' indoor arenas, such as live music venues, that require audiences to stand.
 However, if the event organiser does not wish to adhere to the newly-introduced measures, they can restrict entry only to people who can provide a Covid pass.
 According to the new regulations, the standing-room areas of indoor venues can permit only 20 people at any one time. There is no restriction on the number of people allowed in seating areas, however, as long as it does not exceed the venue's seating capacity.
 In a statement, Avi said the new restriction applies to auditoriums - the space from which audiences can watch a performance, sports game or similar event. The decision will not therefore apply to trade fairs, for example.
 The restriction also only applies to the audience attending the event, and not to members of staff or the performers or players.
 The new measures will come into force next Thursday, 25 November, and remain in effect until Christmas Eve.

Uusimaa authorities place restrictions on indoor events, large gatherings


Summary: Covid disrupted Finland's 700-year-old Christmas Peace tradition last year.

Authorities in Turku are preparing to open up the annual Christmas Peace Declaration to the public after Covid disrupted the 700-year tradition in 2020.
 This would mean that attendees will be allowed to gather in the Old Market Square to observe the ceremony as usual.
 However, city officials said that the plan may change if the Covid situation in the region continues to deteriorate.
 "All matters related to security are taken into account, but no special arrangements are being made for the time being," said  Sari Haavisto , Public Relations Coordinator of the City of Turku.
 In 2020, the Old Market Square in Turku was fenced off to keep the public from entering the area. The choir was also smaller than usual. The Christmas Peace was however still declared from the balcony of Brinkkala House, as per the tradition.
 According to  Mika Akkanen , the protocol manager for the Christmas Peace, last year's declaration was technically no different from previous years. The atmosphere, however, paled in comparison.
 "It felt tepid without an audience there. I really hope that this year the Declaration of Christmas Peace can return to normal," Akkanen said, adding that this year's proclamation will be his ninth.
 "Time flies," Akkanen remarked. "I feel like I just started this job. I hope that the mayor has confidence in my abilities and that I will be able to continue in this position for years to come."

Turku plans to allow crowds at Christmas Peace Declaration


Summary: This week's podcast looks at whether security guards left behind by Finland in Afghanistan can expect their wages any time soon.

When Finland withdrew staff from its embassy in Afghanistan,  some of those who worked there were left behind .
 They were due salary for a fortnight's work in August, but  that still hasn't been paid . With the economic situation in Afghanistan deteriorating, this week's APN podcast tried to discover if they might get their money soon.
 We also asked  Rose Wangui  from the Finnish Cyclists' Federation why it's good to cycle in winter, discussed the  current Covid situation  and asked whether it's possible to look stylish and stay warm in the Finnish winter.
 You can listen to the full podcast using the embedded player here, via  Yle Areena ,  Spotify ,  Apple Podcasts  or on your usual podcast player using the RSS feed.
 Article continues after audio.
 This week saw the culmination of Finland's campaign to qualify for the men's World Cup in Qatar. They just fell short at the last, but given the  ethical issues around the tournament  that might be considered a blessing in disguise.
 We asked  Rich Nelson  from the Finnish Football Show what he made of the big match against France this week, which  Finland lost 2-0 after goals from  Karim Benzema  and  Kyllian Mbappé .
 "They did quite well to handle France for an hour or so, and then the quality told," said Nelson. "It's good that Finland could go toe to toe with a team like France, they looked really good."
 Media reports suggested that the facilities at the freshly renovated stadium did not stand up to the stress test of a capacity crowd. Toilets were over capacity and difficult to find, while it also took a long time to enter the stadium.
 Overall, Nelson wasn't impressed.
 "To the end user, the average Joe, it looks like a lick of paint a roof and some new kiosks," said Nelson. "Having seen the behind the scenes videos I can see they've spent money elsewhere, in the VIP areas, sporting bits and bobs and restaurants and stuff."
 "But for the average football match goer they're not going to get any benefit from that. I think it's a shame that so much time and money were wasted. I think it was closed for five years and we go there and it was exactly the same as last time but the paint was new and we still had to queue 15-20 minutes to use the toilet."
 Join the conversation!
 This week's show was presented by  Egan Richardson  and  Veronica Kontopoulou . It was produced by  Mark B. Odom . The audio engineer was  Panu Willman .
 If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts, just contact us via WhatsApp on +358 44 421 0909, on our Facebook or Twitter accounts, or at yle.news@yle.fi and allpointsnorth@yle.fi.

APN podcast: Unpaid wages and football disappointments


Summary: The historically high quota is due to the worsening political situation in Afghanistan, the Interior Ministry said.

Finland will increase the number of refugees it takes in next year, primarily because of the deteriorating political situation in Afghanistan.
 Interior Minister  Maria Ohisalo  (Green) said on Twitter on Thursday afternoon that the government has decided to raise the refugee quota in 2022 to a historical high of 1,500.
 Quota refugees are people registered as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), usually residing in refugee camps or near their country of origin, who are then resettled in host countries.
 In September, the government had prepared to raise next year's refugee quota to a maximum of 2,000.
 The refugee quota was 850 in 2019 and 1,050 last year.
 The increase in the refugee quota is part of a supplementary budget proposal announced by the government today to complete next year's state budget.
 An increase of 1.1 million euros, geared towards the Interior Ministry’s administration costs due to the higher refugee quota, was proposed. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy will allocate an additional 3.2 million euros to support integration programmes and education.

Finland raises refugee quota to 1,500 for next year


Summary: Whether exposures are reported to parents depends on the school’s individual protocol.

Schools and municipalities currently have varying practices regarding the reporting of students’ Covid infections and Covid-related exposures.
 Helsingin Sanomat reported on Wednesday about infections detected at a school in Sipoonlahti, where neither the school nor municipality initially reported the exposure in accordance with its own policy. Information about infections inside the school initially spread on a Whatsapp group chat among parents. Since the discovery, three entire classes have been quarantined.
 Laura Francke , a lawyer at the National Board of Education, encourages municipalities to be more open.
 "From the point of view of the National Board of Education, openness is encouraged. No one's individual health information can be revealed, but there is an opportunity to spread information on a general level," Francke said in an interview with Yle and Ykkösaamu on Thursday morning.
 Tea Nieminen , an infectious disease specialist at the New Children's Hospital of the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, agrees with Francke.
 "Communication through the Wilma-system seems appropriate in this case. It seems odd that no one was informed. You need that information to be able to get tested in case symptoms appear," Nieminen said in Yle's morning programme.
 According to Nieminen, schools are not considered high-risk and the spread of Covid infections is not very common. Both Francke and Nieminen agree that health protocols are at a good level in schools and there is no need to tighten the reins.
 Children have "immunity debt"
 In the past two weeks, the highest number of Covid infections has been reported in 10- to 19-year-olds. The under-10 age group lags only slightly behind. According to Nieminen, this is because under-12s are not yet vaccinated in Finland, and those aged 12-15 were the last group to start vaccinations.
 "The virus is looking for a population that is vulnerable to it. Our kids are all unvaccinated, and now there are more infections among them than before," said Nieminen.
 It seems inevitable that unvaccinated children under the age of 12 will be infected with Covid.
 "Experts have said that a population that does not get vaccinated will get sick. That applies to both adults and children. When exactly this will happen, we don't know," said Nieminen.
 Many children are currently suffering from a wide variety of respiratory diseases, some of which are more severe than the symptoms caused by Covid. Covid is often mild, or even asymptomatic, in children, Nieminen points out.
 "Due to social restrictions, children have not been exposed to viruses that build up resistance. There has been talk of an 'immunity debt' that may have consequences as soon as this autumn. Children have a lot of other infections and the RS virus epidemic has been exceptionally severe in many countries," Nieminen said in the Ykkösaamu programme.

Finland sees Covid cases spike among children


Summary: Seasonal variations  may be one factor behind Finland's recent surge in Covid infections, a University of Helsinki researcher tells Helsingin Sanomat.

Helsingin Sanomat  writes  that with the number of Covid infections escalating "alarmingly" — including Thursday's  all-pandemic daily high  — we could be in for a long winter, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
 In the paper's most-read article on Friday morning,  Tuomas Aivelo , a postdoctoral researcher in viral ecology at the University of Helsinki, told HS that the seasonal variation of respiratory viruses means they typically spread more quickly in the months of November and December.
 "That’s why I’m optimistic about spring," Aivelo said, adding that next summer will be "especially interesting" as the virus is likely to become more affected by these seasonal factors.
 "After all, the transition from a pandemic to an endemic situation is about two to four years," he said, meaning that the virus is more likely to spread in local clusters when it becomes endemic, rather than more widely as during a pandemic.
 However, there are still many other factors at play that could influence the situation, including of course vaccination rollout, which HS noted has slowed in recent weeks.  Pasi Pohjola , the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health's strategic director, also told the paper that another crucial factor will be how strictly people adhere to restrictions introduced to curb the spread of infections.
 "A lot depends on how the restrictive measures that are being introduced now will take effect and what impact they will have on people's behaviour," Pohjola said.
 "Shocking" tragedy in Porvoo
 Many papers on Friday morning report on a tragic story from Porvoo, where a mother and her child were found dead at an apartment in the city on Thursday evening.
 Tabloid Iltalehti  writes  that police believe the death of a man — understood to be the father of the family — following a car crash in the Kyläsaari district of Helsinki later on Thursday is linked to the discovery of the two bodies in Porvoo.
 "We are investigating the case as two murders, in close cooperation with the Eastern Uusimaa police," Detective Inspector  Jan Aarnisalo  told IL, adding that as the investigation is still in the preliminary stages he cannot reveal more details at this stage.
 IL adds that Eastern Uusimaa's crisis centre is providing the necessary psychosocial support for relatives and those close to the deceased.
 "Such events are rare, but they can also cause feelings of insecurity in others. You should not be left alone with your thoughts. Conversation relieves anxiety. You can share your thoughts with your loved ones but, if necessary, you can also contact external professional support,"  Kirsi Nurme  of the crisis centre told IL.
 "This news is shocking and sad, and it certainly affects everyone in Porvoo," the city's mayor  Jukka-Pekka Ujula  said.
 The storm before the snow
 Ilta-Sanomat  reports  that the Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a storm warning for the southern and western coastal areas of Finland between Friday night and Saturday morning, as a low pressure front is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain showers to the region.
 "In these areas, it is likely that wind strength will rise to storm levels, with the strongest gusts around 30 m / s in places," Foreca's meteorologist  Anna Latvala  said in a press release.
 The winds are likely to be more moderate inland, Latvala added, although the exact route of the low pressure front is difficult to predict.
 One thing does seem certain though: there will be snow this weekend, even in central and southern areas of the country as temperatures are expected to drop to zero and below by Saturday evening and into Sunday.

Friday's papers: From pandemic to endemic, Porvoo tragedy and a late autumn storm


Summary: Finland is currently offering booster shots to those in risk groups.

Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is recommending that anyone taking care of people at risk of a serious Covid infection should get a third dose of Covid vaccine.
 In addition, THL says that local authorities should consider giving booster shots to other care staff to try and ensure services can withstand high demand this winter.
 THL and the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health are considering whether changes to Covid vaccination guidance are needed.
 The idea of third jabs for healthcare workers is to protect at-risk patients, according to THL.
 "Mild or asymptomatic infections among healthcare staff could cause a risk of infections among patients at risk of serious Covid infections that they care for," said THL in a press release.
 From the perspective of managing care providers' ability to handle their workload, it is important to prevent even mild infections if possible, as they cause staff absences.
 Finland has sufficient stocks
 THL says that Finland has enough supplies of Covid vaccine, and that booster jabs can be offered to health and social care staff without endangering the broader vaccine rollout.
 At present booster shots are being administered to the elderly and those in at-risk groups.
 "If Covid vaccines have not yet been taken, it still makes sense to get them," said the THL statement. "The vaccine is the best protection against serious illness from Covid."
 The question of whether to offer booster shots to the rest of the population remains open, and THL says it will form a view on that within the next couple of weeks.

THL proposes Covid booster jabs for healthcare staff


Summary: The project's previous sponsor ran into financial difficulties.

Tampere's new 13,455-capacity arena is to be sponsored by Nokia, after previous sponsor Uros was ditched when it ran into financial problems.
 The switch was unveiled at a press conference on Friday morning, with Tampere mayor  Anna-Kaisa Itkonen  (NCP) saying that she believes Nokia is a trusted brand in Finland and abroad.
 The same cannot be said for Uros, which  hit the headlines  this autumn when creditors started legal action over unpaid bills.
 Business Finland also said the company had  withheld information  when it sought product development funding around a decade ago.
 The new arena has not yet opened, but is set to host matches at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2022.

Tampere Arena gets new sponsor


Summary: The aggravated fraud charges relate to a 4.9 million-euro deal to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Prosecutors have decided to drop charges of aggravated fraud against former payday lender and businessman  Onni Sarmaste  related to the supply of faulty personal protective equipment (PPE) at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
 Similar charges against Sarmaste's business partner were also dropped.
 The National Emergency Supply Agency (Nesa)  paid Sarmaste 4.9 million euros  in April 2020 for a delivery of face masks from China to be used by healthcare workers.
 Finland's VTT Technical Research Centre subsequently determined that the masks did not meet the standards for hospital use, with users reporting  allergic reactions  as well as a strange smell from the equipment. The amount of masks was also found to be fewer than promised.
 The National Bureau of Investigation launched a pre-trial investigation on the suspicion that Sarmaste and his accomplice had deliberately misled NESA officials on matters that were decisive in making the purchase decision.
 Charges against the three NESA officials — the agency's former Managing Director  Tomi Lounema , former Administrative Director  Asko Harjula  and former Department Manager  Jyrki Hakola  — were  dropped earlier this month .
 All three left the agency following the fallout from the failed deal.
 However, the prosecutor decided not to prosecute because there was no probable reason to suspect Sarmaste or his business partner of committing any crime, based on the outcome of the preliminary investigation.
 In a statement released following the prosecutor's decision, NESA said it intends to review the ruling and assess possible further action. The agency further added that it will continue to demand payment of the transaction amount and other ancillary costs from Sarmaste, his company and his business partner.
 Sarmaste previously operated an instant-loan company before running into heavy debt himself. He has a long criminal record including assault, making threats, resisting arrest and drunk driving.

Prosecutor drops charges against payday lender over failed mask deal


Summary: Finland's government will get a replacement Interior Minister as well as an interim Minister of the Environment and Climate Change from Friday.

Interior Minister and Green League chair  Maria Ohisalo  will begin her parental leave on Friday.
 Ohisalo's departure means that her party colleague  Krista Mikkonen  — who is currently Minister of the Environment and Climate Change — will take the interior portfolio while  Emma Kari  (Green) will temporarily become environment minister.
 Mikkonen was first elected to Parliament in 2015, representing the the Savo-Karelia constituency, and was chair of the party's parliamentary group between 2016 and 2019. She was re-elected in 2019 with an increased vote share, and became a minister in June of that year.
 Kari was also first elected to Parliament in 2015, having served on the City Council of Helsinki since 2008. She was a member of Parliament's Grand Committee as well as the Legal Affairs Committee during her first term in parliament, and was re-elected at the parliamentary elections in 2019, again with an increased vote share.
 When Ohisalo returns from parental leave, it is expected that she will take over the environment and climate change brief.
 Tampere MP, and Finland's youngest Member of Parliament,  Iiris Suomela  will serve as party leader in Ohisalo's absence, but declined a ministerial post.

Green League chair Ohisalo begins parental leave as party shuffles ministers


Summary: Finland's state budget got the thumbs up from the international delegation.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended Finland for what the organisation calls a quick and decisive response to the Covid-19 crisis.
 A delegation from the IMF led by  Wojciech Maliszewski  is currently visiting Finland to evaluate the country's economic recovery during the pandemic and offer outlooks on medium and long-term growth.
 Maliszewski presented the delegation's assessment of the Finnish economy in Helsinki on Friday morning.
 "Finland's economy has performed exceptionally well during the pandemic," he said in an interview with Yle. According to the IMF, Finland saw one of the mildest economic recessions in Europe in 2020.
 In a  summary  of its preliminary findings on the state of the economy, the IMF delegation said that Finland's effective strategy to contain the pandemic, coupled with appropriate fiscal policy, enabled it to experience a relatively low decrease in economic activity.
 According to the financial institution, Finland's fiscal deficit in relation to its GDP is projected to remain one percent higher over the medium term than it was before the pandemic in 2022.
 IMF attributes this economic recovery to higher domestic demand and increases in discretionary spending.
 Economic risks still remain
 Despite the projected growth; however, IMF recommends that Finland return to a medium-term spending framework to ensure fiscal savings, decrease public debt and mitigate economic risks related to the pandemic.
 Maliszewski suggests there is no immediate cause for concern.
 "We are not worried about the dangers of debt in the near future. Finland still has some leeway if more economic support is needed to deal with the pandemic," he stated.
 IMF also recommends that Finland make use of a spending review to broaden the tax base and enhance the efficiency of public spending, which would aid it in achieving its ambitious climate targets and increase the credibility of fiscal policy.
 In the budget for 2022, the government had announced it would exceed spending limits imposed in 2019 at the start of this parliamentary term. The IMF wants a return to those rules, but not for a few years.
 "It would be good for credibility if the country returns to pre-pandemic expenditure frameworks in 2025 or 2026," Maliszewski added, noting that Finland should aim to shift public debt towards a downward trend.
 According to IMF estimates, Finland's public debt is expected to reach over 70 percent of its GDP by the end of 2021, while the GDP is projected to grow at around 3¼ percent in 2021 and 2¾ percent in 2022.
 The institution has modified its definition of debt sustainability due to the global rise in public debt during the pandemic.
 More details on the IMF delegation's assessment of Finland's economy can be found here.

IMF praises Finland's handling of Covid crisis, recommends return to state spending framework


Summary: The 455.4 MW-wind farm is expected to begin operations in 2025

Construction on Finland's largest wind farm is now underway in the Lestijärvi municipality in Western Finland.
 Once completed, the total capacity of the wind farm will be 455.4 MW (megawatts).
 The 650 million-euro project will be funded and implemented by a consortium of Finnish energy companies in collaboration with Swedish renewable energy and construction company OX2.
 The consortium comprises Kymppivoima Oy, which owns a majority stake in the project (65 percent), Oulun Energia (25 percent) and Kuopion Energia (10 percent).
 The Lestijärvi wind farm is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, and will likely begin operations the following year. It will consist of 69 wind turbines with a maximum height of 240 metres each.
 The farm is estimated to produce over 1.3 TWh (terawatt-hours) of electricity annually, which is equivalent to 2 percent of Finland's total electricity production last year.
 A 400-kilovolt transmission line is currently being installed at the location. The transmission line, which will run from Lestijärvi to Alajärvi in South Ostrobothnia, will eventually connect to the local grid infrastructure.
 According to  Anne Kurkela , the mayor of Lestijärvi, the project will contribute to the municipality's economy and create job opportunities.
 The wind farm currently generates approximately 2.5 million euros in annual real estate tax revenues for Lestijärvi.

Construction begins on Finland's largest wind farm


Summary: Last year's parade was cancelled due to the coronavirus situation

The Finnish Defence Forces will hold a national parade in the city of Lahti as part of Independence Day celebrations on 6 December, according to a press release.
 Last year's parade, which was meant to take place in Pori, was cancelled due to the escalating number of Covid-19 cases.
 The press release states that troops from all service branches of Finland's military will participate in the parade, including the Finnish National Defence University and the Finnish Border Guard, as well as veterans' and national defence organisations.
 A total of 1,300 people are expected to be part of the event. The parade will begin with the review of troops at Kisapuisto Stadium in Lahti at 12 pm.
 The pass-in review, which the public can observe from Vapaudenkatu, will begin at 13.15 pm and will include up to a thousand people, 55 vehicles and 14 aircraft.
 It will also feature a heritage cavalry detachment of the Cavalry Guild, Dragoon Guild and Tampere Region Cavalry Guild Association.
 Passersby can spot flypasts of the pass-in-review with Finnish Army NH90 transport helicopters and Hughes MD500 light helicopters, as well as Air Force F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters and Hawk jet trainers.
 Those interested will also have the opportunity to examine military equipment on display at the Lahti Market Square.
 The parade could cause some disruptions in traffic, and residents of Lahti can expect the flypasts to create loud noises overhead.
 According to the press release, the event will adhere to the recommendations of health authorities as well the Finnish Defence Forces' own Covid-19 prevention measures.
 The last traditional Independence Day military parade was held in Tampere in 2019.

Finnish military announces Independence Day parade


Summary: The fast food chain's outlets in one region of Finland offered 80 positions recently, but so far only 50 people have been hired.

Young people in Finland are becoming less inclined to work in fast food restaurants, especially after the  widely-reported mistreatment  of employees at Hesburger chains, according to  Markus Kutvonen , chair of the student branch of the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees STTK.
 The complaints about Hesburger came to light in August this year, detailing issues such as chronic under-staffing, employees having to work for 10 hours without breaks and having to work without pay.
 Kutvonen said that while students value the experience they gain while working at fast food restaurants, they are also quick to move on when a new opportunity becomes available.
 "There is a stigma among young people about fast food chains, that they are bad jobs, and the Hesburger scandal certainly did not help in attracting students," Kutvonen said.
 The service sector union PAM has also previously said that working conditions in the industry are a big concern.
 McDonald's franchisee  Mika Rajamäki , who operates a series of the chain's restaurants in the Nordic region, told Yle that he does not believe the fallout from the Hesburger controversy has affected recruitment in the sector.
 However, all McDonald's chains in the Ostrobothnia region — where some of Rajamäki's outlets are located — seem to have difficulty recruiting new employees. The company was looking for a total of 80 new workers in the region recently, but so far only 50 people have been hired.
 Story continues after the photo.
 Franchise owner Mika Rajamäki said he is confident the open positions will be filled by next month. Tuomo Rintamaa / Yle
 Recruitment has also been slow for KFC, which will soon open an outlet in Southern Ostrobothnia following the  inauspicious launch  of the chain's first restaurant in Finland last week.
 Conducive for studying
 Fast food chains usually employ young people, so in theory there should be few obstacles to finding willing workers. A Statistics Finland report from 2019 showed that at least half of students over the age of 18 worked in addition to their studies.
 Story continues after the photo.
 STTK union's student representative Markus Kutvonen is studying to be a paramedic. Miro-Matias Kutvonen
 Furthermore, according to STTK's Kutvonen, many students consider it an advantage that they can work in fast food restaurants without much training or experience. The hours also tend to be conducive to working part-time alongside studying.
 Rajamäki told Yle that his outlets have numerous employees who want to do only one shift or at most two per week.
 "Hiring full-time staff would make it easier to make shift lists, but we can also be very flexible. There are extensive opening hours and large volumes, allowing us to provide many hours of work for a large number of employees," Rajamäki said.
 "Unrealistic" expectations
 According to Rajamäki, the high staff turnover in fast food restaurants is mostly due to the age and life circumstances of the employees.
 In McDonald's, for example, the average employee is between 18 and 20 years old and not looking to launch a career in the fast food industry.
 STTK student chair Kutvonen however pointed out that many young people get their first employment experience at fast food chains, and this can help to provide a foundation for the rest of their working lives.
 He added that some younger people may also have unrealistic perceptions of the work and especially pay.
 A survey of young people commissioned by STTK in autumn last year revealed that the 'coronavirus summer' of 2020 had a significant effect on the availability of summer jobs, but also found that respondents considered salary to be the most important aspect of the job.
 Katri Lehto , Director of Southern Ostrobothnia's TE-offices (Employment and Economic Development Offices), told Yle that working during studies is part of the culture of the local region, but students may also be motivated to obtain part-time jobs because of the lack of study grants and benefits.
 "By working, young people try to cover the costs of renting and living, and also to possibly avoid having to take out a student loan," Lehto said.

Union rep: McDonald's recruitment problems reflect wider "stigma" of working in fast food sector


Summary: The FIFPro jury said Tim Sparv set a "great example for others" by speaking out about issues such as the plight of migrant workers in Qatar.

Finland's national football team captain  Tim Sparv  has received the 2021 Player Voice award from FIFPro in recognition of his activism and advocacy for human rights, equality, anti-racism and the fight against climate change.
 "The committee is impressed by the way Tim is speaking for the benefit of marginalized groups. He is a great example for others, not only raising awareness about crucial topics such as education, equality and human rights, but also taking action when he deems necessary," the award's jury stated.
 FIFPro, or the Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels, is made up of 67 national players' associations and represents 65,000 professional footballers worldwide.
 "I’m touched, I’m really happy, I’m honoured. I know that there‘s a lot of good work being done by many athletes around the world. So this means a lot to me," 34-year-old Sparv said on receiving the honour.
 He added that footballers and athletes in general have an important role to play not only in sport but also in society.
 "More and more athletes are daring to take a stand and do something off the field. This new generation has inspired me too. They understand they are privileged people who have gotten a lot out of the sport and want to give back," he said.
 In September Sparv  wrote an article  for The Player's Tribune, an online sports magazine which publishes first-person stories from professional athletes, calling for more action in support of migrant workers building stadiums for next year's World Cup finals in Qatar.
 "I'm not an expert, but as the captain of the Finnish national team, I know that I might soon be playing in stadiums that have cost workers their lives," Sparv wrote at the time.
 He has also spoken publicly about the  problem of racism  within the game as well as  equal pay  for male and female players.
 Story continues after the photo.
 Sparv has spoken out on a number of different issues. Jaani Lampinen / Yle
 Sparv said he is now more closely following Fifa's actions than previously, as he thinks players should be more involved in decision-making.
 "We have a lot to offer. However, we are just the people who play the sport on the field. It seems that our opinion is not as important as the others. It's pretty weird," Sparv said.
 "Maybe I was a little naive when I was younger. I thought and expected that Fifa would only make good and positive decisions for players and for everyone else."
 FIFPro has been handing out Merit Awards to professional footballers since 2008. The awards are divided into three categories: Player Impact, Player Voice and Player Activism.
 The organisation's 2021 Activism Award went to Norwegian midfielder  Morten Thorsby  for his efforts in raising awareness about the effects of climate change while the Impact Award was given to Slovakian goalkeeper  Patrik Le Giang  for his work helping children with education and sports.
 There is more on the awards, including this year's and previous winners,  here .

Finland football captain receives international award for human rights advocacy


On Monday Eastern Uusimaa police reported they suspect that a man in his late 30s took the lives of both of his parents in the city of Vantaa over the weekend.
 Both of the victims were in their 70s, according to police.
 The man was apprehended in connection with a car accident on Sunday evening, police said, adding that an eyewitness saw the man drive his vehicle off the road and run into the woods on foot.
 The responding police unit noticed from the vehicle's registration number that its owner was possibly related to two homicides in Vantaa, which prompted additional officers to be called to the scene. The man was later apprehended as he was walking along the road.
 Case likely to be investigated as manslaughter
 Police said on Monday that a motive for the killings remained unknown because the suspect had not yet been interviewed.
 The investigation is still in very early stages, so specific charges are still under consideration, according to Eastern Uusimaa Police Department's investigation chief  Tero Tyynelä .
 "It is a question of a suspected homicide, so [the charges] are either murder or manslaughter," Tyynelä said, adding that manslaughter was the more likely charge, "based on the information we have received."

Man suspected of killing his parents in Vantaa


Summary: A report by Yle's investigative journalism unit MOT earlier this month revealed serious shortcomings in the treatment of people with intellectual disabilities.

Police in Hämeenlinna will not open a preliminary investigation into allegations of years-long abuse of a young resident at a privately-run mental health facility in the city.
 A  report  by Yle's investigative journalism unit MOT earlier this month revealed serious shortcomings in the treatment of people with intellectual disabilities, including the tying of a boy to a chair using duct tape at the Hämeenlinna facility.
 In a statement released on Friday, police said that the photo used in the MOT report of the boy tied to the chair was at least five years old, and therefore outside the statute of limitations for a suspected assault charge to be investigated.
 The statement added that the boy's guardians did not wish to pursue the matter further via criminal proceedings or in public.
 However, if a wider investigation into the facility is launched at a later date, police said they may reconsider the matter in the light of any new information.
 The City of Hämeenlinna and the Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland (Avi) are responsible for supervising the residential facility in question. If these authorities find shortcomings in the practices or methods used by facilities that may require further investigation, they should report it to the police.
 In this case, no such report has been filed, the police statement added.

Police drop probe into facility's suspected abuse of autistic boy


Summary: Finance Minister and Centre Party chair Annika Saarikko said her party would not continue in a government coalition that did not adhere to Finland's budget framework.

Prime Minister and Social Democratic Party (SDP) chair  Sanna Marin  said on Saturday that the government parties can resolve their differences, if there is a willingness to do so.
 The PM added that the coalition partners have overcome disagreements in the past, and in her opinion they can continue to do so in the future too.
 Marin was responding to comments made on Saturday morning by Finance Minister and Centre Party chair  Annika Saarikko .
 Speaking at a Centre Party meeting in the Lapland city of Rovaniemi, Saarikko said that her party would not continue in a government that did not adhere to Finland's budget framework.
 "As Minister of Finance, I am responsible for preparing next year's financial decisions. The work for next spring’s framework is now underway. I intend to have this principled debate with the chairs of all the government parties before Christmas," Saarikko said in a speech to party delegates.
 The budget framework establishes agreed spending limits for each budgetary year, which the current government has exceeded during this term of office as extra spending was required to help the nation deal with the Covid crisis.
 Marin, who was attending her own party's meeting in Oulu, said the SDP would continue to work towards keeping the coalition together.
 "Of course, we start from the fact that what is agreed upon together is adhered to. In last spring's framework negotiations, we agreed on the framework and what kind of adjustment measures we will take," Marin said.
 Budget framework negotiations scheduled for next spring will decide how the government will make savings of 370 million euros.
 "This is, of course, a normal negotiation process and we are moving forward here in a normal way. Of course, responsible financial management is important to the SDP," Marin said.
 Yle's latest  monthly voter survey  published at the beginning of this month revealed that support for both the SDP and the Centre Party had slipped as the coalition partners clashed over proposed funding cuts to the cultural sector.

PM Marin: Government party differences can be resolved, if there is enough will


Summary: Some 1,500 people gathered in downtown Helsinki on Saturday to protest efforts to curb the virus.

Police said the demonstration by Helsinki's Central Railway Station, which drew some 1,500 people, passed off peacefully.
 Saturday witnessed mass protests against coronavirus mitigation measures in several major European cities, including Vienna which is heading into a nationwide lockdown to contain infections.
 The Finnish institute for health and welfare (THL) on Saturday said 80.9 percent of residents over the age of 12 had been double jabbed. Some 86.3 percent of those eligible for the vaccine had received one shot by Saturday, while some 171,000 individuals have so far had a third dose.

Watch: Demonstrators in Helsinki protest coronavirus measures


Summary: There are signs that Helsinki rents might be dropping.

There are more than twice as many flats available for rent in Helsinki now than there were before the Covid pandemic, though larger landlords are not yet slashing rents.
 Tenants had been expected to return to the market as Finland puts Covid restrictions behind it, but at least in the capital city region it is taking longer and longer to find people to take rental properties.
 "Before, the marketing time in Helsinki was clearly shorter than in the rest of the country, but now it is longer," said  Juhana Brotherus  of housing lender Hypo. "There has never been this range of properties available or this much power for those looking to rent."
 The biggest increase in availability has occurred in Espoo, where Brotherus said there are three times more rental properties on the market as in autumn 2019.
 In Helsinki there are twice as many flats available.
 Story continues after graphic
 Capital region market recovers more slowly
 It's not that the flats aren't good enough for the tenants, according to  Henrik Laakkonen  from rental website Vuokraovi.com.
 "Demand has not dropped, but supply has risen faster," Laakkonen explained.
 If you're looking for a flat, this is good news. There's lots of choice, and you may find there are better apartments within your budget than you'd expect. The most popular flats at the moment on Vuokraovi are one-bedroom apartments, and there are more of them on the service than other kinds of flat.
 Landlords are having to compete for good tenants, according to The Finnish Landlord Association.
 "It is still difficult to find a tenant in the capital city region," said  Sakari Rokkanen  from the association. "Elsewhere in Finland there have been positive signals during summer and autumn about demand returning to the market, but that progress has been slower in the capital city region."
 Plenty to rent on the market
 Supply has swelled during the pandemic as Airbnb and other short-term landlords have seen traveller numbers decimated, causing them to switch to the normal rental market instead.
 According to Rokkanen, that accounts for an increase of around 1,000 properties on the market in Helsinki.
 Story continues after graphic
 Short-term rentals represent a bigger chunk of the market in Helsinki than elsewhere. Travellers have still not returned to pre-pandemic numbers.
 "The situation for the travel, restaurant and culture sectors has been weak and work has not attracted new residents to Helsinki or the Helsinki region in the same way as before," said Rokkanen.
 But he said he does not believe this situation will last for long.
 "Property prices give some indication that there is belief in Helsinki, although at this point neither the employment situation nor the kind of day to day life that shows the city at its best are on offer," said Rokkanen.
 Brotherus agrees. In the short term property prices may have risen too much, but in the long run they might not have risen enough.
 "Especially in Espoo and Vantaa there are now compact rental apartments under construction, for which there is definitely demand and a need in the long run," said Brotherus. "They won't be filled quickly, however, especially in a situation where the service and travel sectors are still facing big difficulties."
 Are rents set to fall?
 When supply outstrips demand, prices can be expected to drop. That's not yet evident in the statistics on rent levels, although there are hints that the rise in rents has stopped.
 Story continues after graphic
 According to Statistics Finland rents rose 0.9 percent in the capital city region and around one percent in the rest of Finland, compared to a year earlier. The steepest rise was in Turku, where rents jumped 1.7 percent, and in Tampere, where they rose 1.5 percent.
 Brotherus said this doesn't tell the whole truth, however.
 Statistics Finland figures only include rents received by large institutional landlords, and those paid by housing benefit. Private individuals who rent from private landlords without claiming housing benefits are not visible in the data.
 "Rents for both these most creditworthy tenants and for new tenants seem to have fallen, according to many indicators," said Brotherus.
 On the other hand, institutional investors and larger landlords are better able to handle properties lying empty for a month or two, in order to maintain rent levels.
 Rokkanen adds that the typical time to raise rents is when tenants leave, and many landlords are choosing not to increase rents as they have done when demand is strong.

Capital region tenants enjoy broader choice, lower rents as supply outstrips demand


Summary: HUS Chief Physician Asko Järvinen told Ilta-Sanomat that Finland will need new restrictions to help curb the virus.

Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District's (HUS) Chief Physician,  Asko Järvinen , told  Ilta-Sanomat  on Sunday that Finland will need new restrictions to protect those unvaccinated against coronavirus.
 He said Finland would likely need to introduce restrictions similar to those imposed in other European countries to slow the pace of new infections. Austria, for example, is entering a national lockdown on Monday amidst a new wave of infections.
 "It comes down to minimising the risk of unvaccinated adults becoming infected by limiting contacts to prevent overburdening hospitals and ICUs," Järvinen told the paper.
 He noted that 70 percent of Covid patients in regular hospital wards are unvaccinated, whereas nearly all ICU Covid patients have not been vaccinated.
 While Järvinen noted that fully vaccinated individuals may fall ill with Covid, most of those inoculated against coronavirus only experience cold-like symptoms.
 He called on decision makers to outline measures for containing Covid as cases rise.
 Fifth wave Christmas
 Finland has recorded around 1,000 daily cases over the past week, causing a fifth wave of the pandemic to gain pace in the country, according to Järvinen.
 On Thursday public health institute THL reported 1,259 new cases and Friday saw 1,191 new infections—the highest daily counts in Finland since the start of the pandemic.
 That said, Järvinen estimates infections to rise in the coming weeks, peaking around Christmas. He, however, said those with two or three jabs, including the elderly, don't need to isolate this holiday season as long as they observe good hygiene practices.
 Finland is moreover not in a hurry to administer top-up shots to all adults, according to Järvinen. He said Covid vaccines continue to offer good protection against serious Covid-19 symptoms more than six months after the second dose.
 The National Advisory Committee on Vaccines (Krar) is meeting on 1 December to discuss the roll-out of third doses for adults under the age of 60. Top-up jabs are currently available for at-risk groups, health care personnel as well as nursing home residents and staff.

Top physician: Fifth Covid wave hitting Finland


Summary: Centre Party leader Annika Saarikko has threatened to leave the government if coalition partners try to exceed next year's budget.

Left Alliance chair  Li Andersson  on Sunday said her party was demanding more resources for children and youth services that have suffered during the pandemic.
 "The Left Alliance will as part of the regular [budget] negotiation process next spring propose more funding for children and youth services," Andersson said at a Left Alliance party congress in Helsinki on Sunday.
 This statement referred to Centre Party chair  Annika Saarikko 's  austerity comments  at her own party gathering in Rovaniemi on Saturday.
 "Our generation grew up during the 1990s recession," Andersson said, clapping back at Saarikko's remarks that those in office now have been used to cheap money afforded by low interest rates their entire adult lives.
 "Temporary crisis funding ends next year. The responsibility for the future of our children and youth can't solely rest with the Left Alliance or the Education Minister. A government that has pledged to conduct child-friendly policies can't fail on its promises," she said.
 On Saturday Saarikko, who also serves as Finance Minister, said the Centre Party would leave the government if its coalition partners attempt to exceed the agreed budget framework.
 The budget framework establishes agreed spending limits for each budgetary year, which the current government has exceeded during this term of office as extra spending helped the nation deal with the Covid crisis. Budget framework negotiations scheduled for next spring will decide how the government will make savings of 370 million euros.

Left Alliance wants more funds earmarked for children and youth


Summary: Yle's meteorologist says snow will cover the capital region by Tuesday morning.

The first snow of the season will cover many parts of Finland next week.
 "It looks like there will be quite a lot of snow," Yle meteorologist  Joonas Koskela  said.
 Forecasts suggest a few centimetres of the white stuff will fall along the southern coast, including the capital area on Monday night.
 Three separate low pressure areas are moving over Finland next week, with Tuesday night dumping snow along a band stretching from western Lapland to eastern Finland.
 Winter is coming to central parts, according to Koskela, who said central areas could see up to 20 centimetres of midweek snow.
 But while central and northern areas are being blanketed in the white stuff, the first ice crystals will quickly melt in southern Finland, where temperatures will range from -5C to +5C.
 "It's a temperature roller coaster in southern Finland," he explained.
 North of Vaasa the mercury will remain in subzero territory, with clear skies forecast for northern Finland, where daytime temperatures will hover around -15C, falling to -20C at night.

Flurries arriving in Finland


Summary: Domestic outlets explore vaccine hesitancy outcomes and a backlash against Helsinki's decision to cut down on red meat.

It's only a matter of time before every person in Finland is exposed to coronavirus, according to vaccine specialist  Mika Rämet .  Ilta-Sanomat  reports him saying that the current vaccination coverage will land 30,000 people in the hospital over the next year.
 "Vaccination coverage is not a problem if 2-5 percent of the population is unvaccinated. It starts being a problem when 20 percent are unvaccinated. From a public health perspective, an 80 percent vaccination rate does not protect the population. It means there are protected and unprotected individuals,"  Lasse Lehtonen , HUS Director of Diagnostic Services, added.
 Both Rämet, from the Vaccine Research Centre at the University of Tampere, and Lehtonen said third vaccine doses will be made available for everyone.
 The Finnish institute for health and welfare says unvaccinated people are 19 times more likely to need hospital treatment if infected with the virus. They are 33 times more likely to require intensive care unit (ICU) treatment.
 _ Do you want the main stories from Finland curated and delivered straight to your inbox? Then  sign up for our weekly All Points North newsletter ! _
 Fruitless meat debate
 The City of Helsinki recently decided to stop serving meat products at its functions, but now a group of 14 local councillors wants to add more meat to school lunches and meals at elder care units in the capital, reports Swedish-language daily  Hufvudstadsbladet .
 Finns Party councillor  Juhani Strandén  is leading the motion which will be discussed on Wednesday. He argues that elderly people risk B12 deficiency while vegetarian food "irritates" kids.
 City health officials have noted that meal plans reflect nutritional guidelines and that meat reduction has mainly targeted red meat while cow's milk is still available at every meal.
  Tax office back online
 The Tax Office's online MyTax portal will open again on Monday at noon after a service break that began last week, reports  Taloussanomat .
 The 17-million-euro overhaul is designed to improve the mobile version of the site, while speeding up the delivery of tax cards.
 The tax administration is urging remote and hybrid workers to  claim deductions  via the MyTax portal.

Monday's papers: Finland's anti-vaxx problem, meatless drama and tax services


Summary: Finland's Equality Ombudsman says recruiters often discriminate on the basis of an applicant's name.

People of foreign background who are struggling to find employment in Finland should change their surname to a Finnish-sounding one.
 That's the advice of  Ilja Timonen , a Russian immigrant who did exactly that.
 Having studied physics, mathematics and educational science in Russia, Timonen moved to Finland in 2006 but he could not find any work in his chosen fields.
 He wanted to be an electrical technician, but he was unable to secure a position even as an unpaid intern.
 "Some companies even advertise that 'we have Finnish technicians'," he said.
 In addition to pursuing a career as a technician, Timonen also applied for positions as a Russian translator and as a teacher of mathematics and physics—but all in vain. This prompted him to see what would happen if he applied under a fake Finnish name.
 "I was called back within a week and offered a substitute teacher position," he said, adding that he then began to think he should give up his Russian name entirely as it was causing him so much trouble in the labour market.
 Becoming Ilja Timonen
 In the end, the decision was easy.
 "At first I tried to cherish my identity in Finland, but ultimately I found that was pointless. My name doesn't matter to me. How I do my work does," Timonen said.
 He decided to change his first name from Ilya to Ilja, and he took his new Finnish surname from his Karelian grandparents. He does not wish to disclose his former surname anymore.
 "According to my genealogy, the [former] name doesn't have a long history and it means nothing," he said, adding that it had also been incorrectly translated from the Cyrillic alphabet onto his Finnish passport.
 After officially changing his name, Timonen decided to apply for an interpreter position, working for a company that provided translation services to cities and hospital districts. He had applied to the same company on two previous occasions, without even being invited for an interview.
 This time however, when applying under the name Ilja Timonen, he received an invitation to an interview within one week. Three years later, he is still employed by the company.
 The person in charge of recruitment at the company at the time has since left. However, the manager who decided to hire Timonen told Yle that the name had no effect on the decision, a view echoed by the company's director of translation services.
 "Most of our interpreters are foreign language speakers. The name does not make a difference," the director said, but recalled that another member of staff also changed their foreign name to a Finnish one.
 Story continues after the photo.
 Timonen was rejected twice by the same company that later hired him after he changed his name. Petteri Sopanen / Yle
 Another member of the company's management told Yle that although they were not personally involved or aware of Timonen's recruitment, they admitted that an applicant's name can be an important factor in the recruitment process.
 "There is often a rush to recruit and time could be wasted," they said.
 The name of the company is not mentioned in this story, and the firm's representatives have agreed to comment if they can remain anonymous.
 Timonen cannot fully prove why he was previously rejected by the same company, but he said he is certain that having a foreign surname is a disadvantage.
 An 'ethnic hierarchy'
 Earlier this autumn, the Faculty of Theology at the University of Helsinki  approached four students  about the possibility of providing lessons on Islam at a primary school and informed them they had been selected based on their 'Finnish-sounding' surnames.
 Other students from the same faculty were excluded from the process.
 Equality Ombudsman  Kristina Stenman  has demanded a report from the faculty on this practice. Stenman told Yle that recruiters often discriminate on the basis of an applicant's name, but people rarely file complaints about this phenomenon.
 Providing evidence of the discrimination is difficult, and the costs of litigation are usually borne by the losing party. A victim of discrimination is therefore unlikely to take such a risk.
 Recruiters are also unlikely to ever directly acknowledge that some applicants might be excluded from the recruitment process because of their name.
 However, an  anonymous survey of recruiters  carried out last year by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health found that as many as 39 percent of HR professionals admitted that an applicant's foreign-sounding surname made it less likely that they would be called for an interview.
 "The most common basis for the observed discrimination was ethnic or national background and gender. In most cases, it was estimated that discrimination by the recruiting supervisor was mostly subconscious or unintentional," the report stated.
 The issue of discrimination in recruitment has been studied more extensively in Finland in recent years, and evidence of an ethnic hierarchy in the labour market has been uncovered.
 Sociology researcher  Akhlaq Ahmad  sent out some  5,000 fake job applications  under Finnish and foreign names as part of a large-scale experiment in 2016 and 2017.
 The objective of the study was to find out if a candidate's name affected whether they were invited to an interview.
 The  results  were startling.
 Ahmad created five categories of applicant representing five different ethnic backgrounds: white Finnish, English, Russian, Iraqi and Somali.
 He then sent a thousand applications from each group via the Finnish Employment Office website. The jobs were in the restaurant, catering, retail, office, cleaning and customer service sectors.
 The fake applicants were equally strong. They had the same training, the same amount of experience, all of them had been to school in Finland to indicate that they had lived their whole lives in Finland or at least had moved to Finland before they started school.
 All of them spoke excellent Finnish.
 Story continues after the photo.
 Sociology researcher Akhlaq Ahmad. Henrietta Hassinen / Yle
 If each applicant's qualifications were the main factor in the recruitment process, each group would—in theory—have had an equally good chance of getting a job interview.
 However, the differences were stark.
 Applicants with white Finnish names received by far the most invitations to interview, with 390 interviews from a thousand applications. English applicants received 269 interview invitations, while Russians received 228, Iraqis 134 and just 99 for Somali applicants.
 Last year, just 12 percent of HR professionals reported having tried anonymous recruitment—the process by which job applicants are selected for interview without the recruiters knowing the applicant's name, gender or age.
 According to Ahmad, anonymous recruitment may even out the chances of getting an interview, but it won’t secure a job for anyone.
 If discrimination is based on the applicant's presumed foreign language or ethnicity, it may be reflected not only in the name but also in the work experience and qualifications acquired abroad. Therefore, Ahmad added, anonymous recruitment is essentially putting a plaster over a problem that can only be solved by tackling discriminatory attitudes.
 His research revealed that discrimination can occur in recruitment even if the applicant has a native level standard of English and their education and work experience have been acquired in Finland.
 As was the case for  Carolin Piotrowski .
 Assumptions based on surname always present
 Now 33, Piotrowski began working at the age of 15, first as a hotel cleaner, then in a restaurant and as a receptionist. She was often criticised by Russian customers who presumed she spoke Russian because of her Polish surname.
 "We have a couple of words in common. I speak Russian as well as the average Finn speaks Estonian," she said.
 Piotrowski told Yle that assumptions about her based on her surname have followed her throughout her working life, and they usually adhere to the same pattern.
 "Even if I apply in Finnish, I will get the answer in English. If I get to a job interview, the beginning always involves a discussion about my last name. Then I have to talk about where I am from and how many years I have lived in Finland. And then comes the praise about how well I speak Finnish," Piotrowski said, adding that she was born and has lived all her life in Helsinki.
 Story continues after the photo.
 Carolin Piotrowski.
 Piotrowski's family has Polish roots and their original surname was Sajur, which is Jewish. The family changed the name during the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany.
 However, in Finland the name has been a burden.
 "As a child competing in athletics, my name could not be announced. In school I was called  Piot-roskis  [roughly translated as Piot-trash]," she recalled.
 After completing her studies, Piotrowski worked as a graphic designer in the gaming industry for a few years. There, she did not find that her name was a problem among her colleagues as the company's employees had come to Helsinki from all over the world and the working language was English.
 Currently Piotrowski is working as a computer science teacher, and her students and colleagues know her as Sajur. This, she said, has been easier for everyone.
 Although the name change is not yet official, Piotrowski said she plans to officially confirm the change as soon as her current passport expires. A few of her relatives have also switched back to their former names in order to get better jobs.
 "I have noticed a big difference in the number of interview invitations depending on whether I use my Polish surname or the more neutral surname. As Sajur, I also don't have to spell my name at a hotel reception or at a Starbucks checkout," she said.
 It also happened that the first job she received as Sajur became a permanent one.

Job hunters switch to 'Finnish-sounding' surnames to avoid discrimination


Summary: Almost two-thirds of respondents said that trust in news sources is an increasingly important factor in their own media use.

The online content provided by the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation Yle as well as by national and regional newspapers are the most reliable source of news on the internet. That's according to the results of a survey conducted by News Media Finland, a trade association for newspaper and free newspaper publishers.
 Respondents were asked to grade the reliability of online news services on a scale of 1 to 10, with Yle scoring an average of 7.9 and newspapers receiving an average rating of 7.6.
 Commercial broadcaster MTV was third with a rating of 6.9, while respondents gave the 'evening newspapers'—such as tabloids Iltalehti and Ilta-Samomat—a rating of 5.7.
 The survey into the reliability of online news services by News Media Finland was the first of its kind.
 The results revealed that Yle is especially trusted by the over-65 age demographic, while the younger age category—15–24-year-olds—tended to view newspapers as being as reliable as the national broadcaster.
 Respondents were also asked to rate the reliability of social media platforms as sources of news, with Youtube receiving a rating of 4.0 and Facebook 3.3.
 Trust increasingly important, especially among young people
 Almost two-thirds of respondents, or 64 percent, said that trust in news sources is an increasingly important factor in their own media use. The share of this figure was especially high among the 15-24 year old demographic, of whom 70 percent said trust was important.
 Another 70 percent of respondents said that news published online by newspaper outlets is as reliable as the news published in the printed editions.
 "The reliability of content published online is a matter of course for journalistic news content creators, but it is great to see that people in Finland have also recognised this," News Media Finland's Director of Marketing and Research,  Sirpa Kirjonen , said.
 The online service provided by Yle and the nation's morning newspapers also received the best marks in the survey in terms of quality.
 Pollster IRO Research interviewed 1,000 people for the survey during the month of October.

Survey: Yle, newspapers most reliable source of online news


Summary: A recovery in the forest products industry will boost the Finnish economy most through the end of next year, according to Etla Economic Research.

The forest products industry, car batteries and other electrical and electronic industries are pulling Finland out of the coronavirus crisis, according to Etla Economic Research (previously the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy).
 However, there are still question marks regarding the service and events sectors, the business think tank said on Wednesday.
 Etla's industrial review indicates that numerous industries are now on a growth trajectory. The institute estimates that exports in the forest products industry will increase by about 15 percent this year, with paper exports up by 10 percent.
 The forest industry accounted for 20 percent of the value of Finland's total exports of goods in January-August.
 Exports of motor vehicles are expected to accelerate next year. Vehicles accounted for almost seven percent of Finnish goods exports during the first eight months of this year.
 "It is estimated that half of the output of the Uusikaupunki car plant will go to the United States via Germany. A second battery plant is also being completed for Valmet Automotive, and in the next few years, the turnover of battery systems may even reach that of the vehicle manufacturing sector," said Etla researcher  Birgitta Berg-Andersson .
 In addition to cars, Etla estimates that total exports of ships and aircraft will grow by more than 20 percent this year.
 It expects the output of the entire manufacturing sector to grow by four percent this year and three percent next year.
 Hospitality industry to recover in 2022, events uncertain
 According to Etla, the recovery in the Covid-hit hotel and restaurant sector will be strongest next year, and last until 2023. However there is uncertainty about the recovery, which would be undermined by a possible worsening of the pandemic.
 "The recovery of the hotel and restaurant industry is indeed well underway, barring any major surprises. However, the recovery schedule in the cultural and events sector, which has been among the biggest victims, is still a question mark," says  Markku Lehmus , Etla's Head of Forecasting.
 According to Etla's prognosis, commercial sectors will return to normal during the next year. Retail has maintained a strong pace and the automotive branch has clearly recovered this year. However, sales of new cars are suffering from production and delivery problems, the institute noted.
 Etla was set up by a consortium of manufacturing and employers' organisations in 1946. Its main funders include the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) and the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers (TT).

Business think-tank: Forest industry, car batteries will pull Finland out of Covid doldrums


Summary: Some 2,000 weekly calls go unanswered at the capital's public clinics.

With a  fifth wave of the pandemic  gaining pace in Finland, health centres in the capital are struggling to clear backlogs, according to  Timo Lukkarinen , medical director at the City of Helsinki.
 Public health authority THL on Monday reported  more than 2,600  new lab-confirmed coronavirus infections over the weekend.
 Helsinki's health centres operate a callback service. Lukkarinen told Yle the capital's 23 public clinics can receive up to 2,000 calls per week that staff don't have time to respond to, despite the fact that the law stipulates that nurses should evaluate next steps for callers within 36 hours.
 Callers' numbers are stored in a system with nurses calling patients back. Staff are now attempting to clear call-back queues during evenings and weekends
 "Physicians are using remote patient visits to clear backlogs," Lukkarinen said, adding that several viruses are circulating at the moment, such as RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus).
 The city has however added more personnel to its health centres since the Covid crisis began. The network now comprises some 2,000 staff, up from 1,300 before the pandemic.
 Delays and disruptions
 As the pandemic wears on, people are also starting to seek treatment they had been putting off during the pandemic because of Covid concerns.
 Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) has already delayed non-urgent surgeries and visits as Covid patients have increasingly required healthcare resources.
 While the capital region has recorded more infections than any other area of the country throughout the pandemic, seeking care has also become more difficult in other areas of Finland.
 The country now has a backlog of some 1.3 million dental visits.
 Henna Virtomaa  of the Finnish Dental Association said the Covid crisis has exacerbated difficulties adults already faced in accessing dental care. The association pointed out that about half of adults receive dental care through the public system, whereas the other half accesses it privately. Around a million children and youths are also covered by the public dental system.
 Figures also indicate Finland recorded some 1,200  fewer cancer cases  last year than during 2019, though projections forecast cancer diagnoses increasing in the country.
 Lukkarinen said irreversible damage can happen if cancer treatment is not started in time.
 "It's not safe to indefinitely delay all forms of care," he added.

Covid overburdening Helsinki's public health centres


Summary: Infants up to 12 weeks old face the biggest risks from a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.

Hospitals and outpatient centres in the Helsinki and Uusimaa region have seen a growing number of young children and infants suffering from RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, infections.
 As of Sunday evening there were nearly 25 children receiving hospital care for RSV infections in the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district,  Tea Nieminen , an infectious disease specialist at Helsinki's New Children's Hospital, told news agency STT.
 According to  Mika Rämet , professor of pediatrics and head of the vaccine research center at the University of Tampere, while there are some RSV cases around Finland, they are especially concentrated in the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district (HUS).
 "According to the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) registry of communicable diseases, there were 246 RSV cases diagnosed in Finland this month and 140 cases in the HUS area.
 RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common virus that usually causes mild cold symptoms, but it can be particularly serious for the very young as well as the elderly who have underlying conditions. RSV infections can cause inflammation in the lower lungs of newborns, infants and toddlers. The virus spreads as droplets, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
 RSV symptoms include runny nose, decreased appetite, coughing, sneezing and fever.
 Symptoms can also include difficulty breathing, which may manifest itself as wheezing or wheezing with a higher pace of breathing. Affected babies may also have mucus and fever, while small infants may only show interrupted breathing as the sole symptom.
 More cases expected
 Due to coronavirus-related restrictions that were in place, an awaited outbreak of RSV did not occur at all last spring, according to Rämet and Nieminen. Not a single RS case was reported in the spring.
 "Since we had a break of one-and-a-half years, the epidemic will probably be more intense than average, as it has been in Sweden. An illness you suffer from every year offers protection for longer periods of time, now a larger proportion of children [with RSV] are those who never had it," Rämet explained.
 Nieminen said more RSV cases are likely on the way.
 "This spring we didn't see a single case, which may be a warning sign that the coming season will be stronger than it normally is. The epidemic picks up speed when the virus comes into contact with enough susceptible people and whose immune systems are weakened," she said, adding that this year's RSV season seems to be about a month ahead of schedule and that the epidemic will likely continue at least until January.
 Kids with RSV requiring hospitalisation usually stay in the hospital about a week, but are not competing for beds with the district's hospitalised Covid patients because they're in the New Children's Hospital.
 "These two groups are being cared for in different places, which makes it somewhat easier, but it certainly burdens the healthcare system as a whole that there are simultaneously two types of patients whose care require large resources. We still have a limited number of nurses and doctors," Nieminen said.
 RSV vaccines are in development, according to vaccine specialist Rämet, who noted that it is possible to give infants some degree of protection by giving them injections of antibodies.
 "Right now we're studying more advanced versions of antibodies. One idea is to modify them so that their half-life is slowed down so you would be able to cope with a single injection instead of having to inject one every month throughout the RSV season," Rämet said.

RSV outbreak sends infants, children to HUS hospitals


Summary: A 37-year-old has been remanded on suspicion of double murder.

On Wednesday a 37-year-old man was placed under arrest on suspicion of murdering his parents in the city of Vantaa over the weekend. The head of the investigation said that he had confessed to the killings.
 The suspect lived with his parents, who were in their 70s, according to police.
 The man was apprehended in connection with a car accident on Sunday evening, police said, adding that an eyewitness saw the man drive his vehicle off the road and run into the woods on foot.
 The responding police unit noticed from the vehicle's registration number that its owner was possibly related to two homicides in Vantaa, which prompted additional officers to be called to the scene. The man was later apprehended as he was walking along the road.
 Case likely to be investigated as manslaughter
 Police said on Monday that a motive for the killings was unknown because the suspect had not yet been interviewed.
 At that point the investigation was still in the early stages, so specific charges were still under consideration, according to the head of the investigation at the Eastern Uusimaa Police Department,  Tero Tyynelä .
 On Wednesday he said that there were aspects to the crime that fit the definition of murder.
 "All I can say is that a bladed weapon was used in the act. That is linked to the brutality and cruelty of the act, based on which we suspect the man of murder," Tyynelä said.
 The suspected homicide came to light when the suspect failed to arrive for a scheduled meeting. The person the suspect was supposed to meet went to his home, where the retired couple was found dead.
 24.11: Updated with arrest on suspicion of double murder.

Police: Man confesses to killing his parents in Vantaa