Summary: The Tax Administration reported that wages went up in all six of Finland's largest cities during January to October this year.

Salaried income in Finland grew by over five percent from January to October this year compared to the same period last year, according to figures published on Monday by the Tax Administration.
 The figures show income register data broken down by municipality and revealed that wages went up in all six of Finland's largest cities during the reporting period.
 The biggest rise in income was in Tampere, where residents saw an average increase of 7 percent in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.
 The next largest increase was in Oulu, where total wage income increased by 6.3 percent year-on-year. Among Finland's other main urban areas, wages were up 5.9 percent in Espoo, 5.5 percent in Helsinki, 5.4 percent in Turku and 4.3 percent in Vantaa.
 "The increase is explained in particular by the start of the partial shutdown measures prompted by [the beginning of the] Covid crisis in the spring of the comparison year 2020, and their gradual easing this year," the Tax Administration explained in a press release.
 The agency added that the new system of gathering data allows for the development of taxpayers' earned income to be monitored monthly. In the past, monitoring has only been possible on an annual basis.
 "Thanks to the new statistics, municipal-specific and also parish-specific information on the development of earned income can now be found much more in real time, once a month. We hope that the municipalities and parishes will find the statistics and use them in financial planning and decision-making," the Tax Administration's Inspector General  Matti Luokkanen  said.
 In addition to earned income, the monthly statistics also show pensions, unemployment benefits and other taxable social benefits.
 "As the benefits and pensions paid have not been reported to the income register until the beginning of 2021, comparative information compared to the previous year will not be available until January 2022," Luokkanen explained.

Tax office: Salaried income up 5% on 2020, Tampere sees highest bump


Summary: Debuting more than a decade ago, the firm's ear-light buds have been the recipient of applause as well as scrutiny.

The Oulu-based product development, research and design services firm Valkee has filed for bankruptcy at the city's district court, with the company citing excessive debt as the reason behind the filing.
 The company's most famous product, launched more than a decade ago, the Valkee 2, is a set of earbuds that shine bright LED lights into the wearer's ears, purportedly intended to relieve seasonal affective disorder-related depression.
 The company claimed the device could help increase a person's exposure to light via the ear canals, recommending that people use them six to 12 minutes per day, several times a week.
 The Valkee company was founded in 2007 and according to the bankruptcy filing had 100,000 euros in assets and nearly 1.5 million euros in liabilities. It's largest single debt is linked to a Business Finland-based development loan, amounting to around 1.2 million euros.
 According to the firm's LinkedIn webpage on Monday: "The HumanCharger headset, introduced in 2015, helps thousands of globe trotters and road warriors bet jet lag twice as fast, and the Valkee 2 headset, introduced in 2010, eliminates or reduces the winter blues symptoms of the over 70,000 satisfied customers."
 The firm's ear-light buds were the recipient of applause, regulatory scrutiny as well as ridicule.
 In 2010 the company received an honorable mention from Innofinland for the innovation, an honour which was presented by then-President  Tarja Halonen .
 The country's medical watchdog Valvira  took issue with  an advertisement by national airline Finnair that claimed without scientific proof that Valkee's earbuds could help people with jet lag symptoms.
 In 2012 Finland's Skeptics Society awarded the LED earbuds its 'humbug' prize, calling out the company for marketing a "poorly researched health product."
 The bankruptcy filing is not yet final and the firm has not yet been declared bankrupt, as legal proceedings could still be interrupted.

Finnish 'ear light' firm Valkee files for bankruptcy


Employers in Finland need to change their attitudes when recruiting new staff, according to the country's employment minister,  Tuula Haatainen  (SDP).
 Speaking to Yle, the minister's remarks were linked to a broader discussion in Finland about a workforce shortage many employers claim the country is facing.
 Haatainen said that in order to begin addressing the problem, employers need to look at themselves in the mirror.
 "Changes to recruitment practices as well as the attitudes of employers must be made," she said, specifically referring to jobseekers over the age of 50, people with foreign-sounding names and people who have shortcomings in the country's languages.
 "Someone in their 50s easily has 20 years left of working life in many industries," she said, "and foreign names shouldn't have any impact at all."
 On Monday, Yle News reported about people changing their foreign-sounding names to Finnish names, a move which they said helped land them jobs more easily than before.
 "Review language requirements"
 Leaders of many industries have called for increased labour-based immigration, but at the same time many companies remain reluctant to hire people who don't speak the local languages — chiefly Finnish — at a native level.
 Haatainen said that employers need to review the level of language competence employees should be required to have.
 "When recruiting, they should be discussing how to support an employee's Finnish language skills," she suggested.
 Train new employees instead of rejecting them
 Another common explanation for current hiring practices employers give is that applicants don't have the correct educational background or work experience within a particular sector. Haatainen said that she is often contacted by fresh graduates who cannot land jobs because of their lack of experience.
 Here, too, Haatainen put the onus on employers, saying they should take more responsibility for training new hires.
 "We have an excellent education system. A person who has earned a degree likely has the ability to work, but they need work experience," she said.
 Haatainen noted that the government wants to increase the proportion of foreign students to remain in Finland after getting their degrees. About 50 percent of foreign students currently end up staying in the country after graduation but the new goal is 75 percent.
 One tool that could be used to achieve that goal is to extend new graduates' residence permits, she said.
 "That would increase the possibility of looking for work after they're done studying," the minister said.

Employment minister urges attitude change on hiring foreigners, older workers


Summary: On Tuesday morning, media covered the challenges faced by Finland's hospitals and an exposé on the cruel conditions in fur farms

This week  Helsingin Sanomat  reports that on Monday, hospitals in Finland had more Covid-19 patients than ever before.
 As of Monday, 322 people had been hospitalised after contracting the virus, compared to 284 a week ago and 255 the week before that, as per data from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
 Helsingin Sanomat also  reports  that hospitals are facing an additional burden from patients falling ill from other viruses, particularly the seasonal flu and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
 The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) has had to increase its ICU units from 15 to 21 to accommodate the growing number of Covid-19 patients requiring critical care.
 According to  Jari Petäjä , the acting Chief Medical Officer of HUS, the number of Covid-19 patients is expected to rise at a moderate rate due to increasing vaccination coverage; however, health officials are troubled by the growing number of influenza and RSV cases.
 Hospitals in HUS are currently treating a total of 20 patients for the RSV virus, which primarily affects children. “We are pessimistic and believe the RSV epidemic will be severe, as it was in Sweden," Petäjä said.
 British tabloid exposes "hellish" fur farms in Finland
 British tabloid The Mirror has published a  story  detailing an undercover investigation of three arctic fox fur farms in Finland.
 The exposé, which was  highlighted  by Ilta-Sanomat, paints a disturbing picture of animals in distress, claiming that the foxes were left to suffer from untreated deformities and diseases as well as uncontrolled obesity.
 It cites  Kristo Muurimaa  of the Finnish animal protection group Oikeutta Eläimille as saying that this is "the norm" in Finland, which is the largest producer of fox fur in Europe.
 The story also alleges that most of the foxes are killed before they are skinned at just eight months old.
 While it does not mention the name or location of the farms in question, the article includes numerous unsettling pictures of the animals, which are reportedly kept in small cages with no bedding.
 Sudden employment spurt a pleasant surprise
 A sudden rise in Finland's employment rate following a recent slump has been welcome news for economists,  reports  Finnish tabloid Iltalehti.
 According to the  Labour Force Survey  by Statistics Finland, October 2021 saw 65,000 more people employed than the same period last year.
 Additionally, there were 37,000 fewer unemployed people this month compared to a year ago.
 Pasi Sorjonen , the Chief Economist of trade union confederation Akava wrote that the employment trend was "strong" on Twitter, calling the lower than expected unemployment figures a "pleasant surprise."
 Jukka Appleqvist , Chief Economist of the Finland Chamber of Commerce, echoed the sentiment, saying the employment figures were "excellent" in a tweet.

Tuesday's papers: Hospital burden, Finland's "hellish" fur farms and an employment uptick


Summary: Southern Finland caught its first glimpse of snowfall on Monday, with more expected for Tuesday

Several parts of Southern Finland, including the capital city region, witnessed the first snow of the season on Monday evening.
 Light flurries spread to most areas in the south, with the exception of the coast.
 Tuesday morning brought significant amounts of snowfall to Southern Finland, but coastal areas remained drier for a time, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
 Forecasts suggest that west Uusimaa, Hämeenlinna and Lahti will see the highest concentration of snow on Tuesday. Northern parts of Central Finland are also expected to be blanketed in white by Wednesday morning.
 The municipalities of Somero and Hämeenlinna received 9 centimetres of snow each on Monday, while Salo saw 8 centimetres. However, snowfall in the Uusimaa region was inconsistent.
 While Nuuksio in Espoo received 7 centimetres of the white stuff and Lohja recorded 6 centimetres, the snow reached 2 centimetres at Kumpula station in Helsinki and the recording stood at zero in Tapiola, Espoo.
 "We can consider it the first snow of the season when the ground is covered by more than one centimetre of snow measured at 8 am,"  Petri Hoppula , a meteorologist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute explained.
 Last year, the Helsinki Metropolitan area received its first official snow cover only at the end of December.
 While more flurries are expected for Southern Finland, including Uusimaa, on Tuesday, the wintry weather will likely give way to warmer temperatures on Wednesday as the mercury is set to rise above zero.
 Freezing conditions continue in Northern Finland; however, with the municipality of Utsjoki breaking this year's cold weather record with a temperature of -29℃ on Tuesday.

First snow arrives in Southern Finland


Summary: In Berlin, Niinistö once again lauded the so-called 'Helsinki spirit'.

Finland's President  Sauli Niinistö  has confirmed that the country will seek the chairpersonship of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2025, the 50th anniversary of the organisation's founding conference in Helsinki.
 Speaking on Monday at a seminar held by the Körber Foundation during his visit to Berlin, Niinistö confirmed the bid.
 "We have to take responsibility for the future of our continent," said Niinistö, who also met the German President  Frank-Walter Steinmeier  during his visit. "Finland is ready to do its bit. Last week we decided with the government to propose that Finland take the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2025."
 That year marks 50 years since the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, which was held in Helsinki and led to the founding of the OSCE.
 The conference saw US President Gerald Ford and Soviet leader Leonid Breznev meet in the Finnish capital, with a momentary easing of Cold War tensions following the meeting.
 Niinistö has frequently invoked the 'Helsinki spirit' in recent months, while campaigning to hold a 2025 version of the conference.
 "The Helsinki spirit is a state of mind," said Niinistö in Berlin. "But more than that it is a way of working that overcomes divides and mistrust."
 "If it was possible for that state of mind to be born in the middle of the Cold War, it cannot be impossible today. We do not need a new summit some time in the future, the task is much more urgent. We need the Helsinki spirit here and now."

President Niinistö confirms Finland bid for OSCE 50th anniversary chair


Summary: Representatives from We Will Stop Femicide accepted the 300,000-euro prize in Tampere on Monday.

We Will Stop Femicide, a Turkish NGO dedicated to tackling violence against women, was awarded Finland's International Gender Equality Prize 2021 on Monday.
 The  award , which was first established by the Finnish government in 2017, is given to a person or organisation that has "advanced gender equality in a globally significant way." This year's prize was worth 300,000 euros.
 Gülsüm Önal  and  Fidan Ataselim , founders of the We Will Stop Femicide platform, accepted the award from Prime Minister  Sanna Marin  in Tampere on Monday. This was the third time the Finnish government handed out the prize.
 "I'm very happy to receive the award on behalf of women who struggle for their lives," Önal, who is also the president of the organisation, said at the ceremony.
 Önal said it was "empowering" that women's struggles in Turkey had been acknowledged by the international community. She added that it was especially an honour to be felicitated by a country like Finland, which is known for promoting gender equality and women's rights.
 Önal also stressed on the crucial role of international support in empowering women across the world who are struggling against inequality.
 We Will Stop Femicide  seeks to combat violence against women in Turkey, and offers support and aid, including legal assistance, to women in the country.
 Prize money to fund NGO's activities
 The Finnish Government awarded the prize on the basis of a presentation by an international jury. The jury included Finnish MPs  Eva Biaudet  and  Bella Forsgrén , former Finnish Prime Minister  Matti Vanhanen ,  Dean Peacock , director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative to confront militarised masculinities, and  Melanne Verveer , executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University.
 "This prize is one way of showing our strong support to brave human rights defenders, endeavouring to make women’s rights a reality and fighting violence against women," Biaudet, who is chair of the jury, said in a press release.
 According to Önal, the 300,000 euros We Will Stop Femicide received will directly go towards funding the platform's activities, which include offering legal aid and support for families of murder victims, pushing for changes in legislation and training women about their rights.
 The group says they will also use the money to expand their operations in cities across Turkey.
 According to Biaudet, the jury wanted to draw attention to the dramatic increase in violence against women across the world during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 Turkey's deteriorating situation
 The jury also selected the We Will Stop Femicide platform as a means of highlighting the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, more commonly known as the Istanbul Convention.
 Turkey chose to withdraw from the convention, which uses a legal framework to protect women from violence, earlier this year in July. The move sparked protests across the country.
 Turkey has witnessed a steady rise in gender-based violence since We Will Stop Femicide was founded in 2010. According to Ataselim, secretary general of the organisation, 2011 proved to be the only exception, as that was the year the Istanbul Agreement was signed.
 The Covid-19 crisis has apparently made matters worse. "It has been difficult for women to get help during the pandemic. While there has been talk of helplines and support organisations, these have been overwhelmed with other pandemic-related issues," Ataselim revealed.
 "Women have had to decide between facing the threat of the virus or seeking help," she added.

Turkish NGO wins Finland's gender equality prize


Summary: An Indian immigration visa firm owner suggests that Finland should promote itself more actively to attract skilled workers.

Chandigarh, the capital of northern Indian states Punjab and Haryana, has many highly educated young people who are looking to immigrate to western countries in search of better opportunities.
 Meanwhile in Finland, many leaders of government and industry say that the country needs to import educated, skilled workers in order to keep its Nordic welfare system from collapsing due to dwindling numbers of taxpayers.
 However, the most popular destinations for Indian immigrants include Canada, the US and the UK — mainly due to those countries' use of English as well as historical reasons.
 Yle spoke with  Kamal Sandhu , an IT expert who lives in Chandigarh but plans to move to Canada next year. Sandhu works as a director at Genpact, an international IT firm, but said he thinks there are better career opportunities in Canada.
 "I've been working in the field for eight years. If I thought about my location, I would have been able to achieve the same in less time in the West. What I've achieved in 20 years here, would have been achieved in six to seven years in a developed country," Sandhu said.
 One reason for the relative lack of opportunities in his home country is its poor employment situation.
 According to a study by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the unemployment rate in Punjab was more than 33 percent in May of last year. Meanwhile, India's national unemployment rate was 23.5 percent.
 Due to a large number of people wanting to immigrate to the West, a booming cottage industry of assisting individuals acquire travel visas has emerged in Chandigarh. One of the biggest players is a firm called Eurocan.
 On the company's website, Finland is heavily promoted as a potential destination, stating that the Nordic country is a safe, affordable place to study in and has excellent health care services.
 Kamal Sandhu and family members he hopes to bring after he immigrates to Canada next year. Aarju Aalam
 Eurocan's owner,  Virenda Chandel  says that Finland is a popular destination among his customers, mainly for students. He explains that the company charges nearly 12,000 rupees, or about 150 euros, to get a study visa for Finland.
 Chandel said that Finland is an ideal place for IT experts.
 "There are many opportunities for Indians in Finland. The problem is that it's not well known," he explained.
 Even though Eurocan's website explains that it is relatively easy to get a visa to live in Finland, IT expert Sandhu still wants to go to Canada and eventually bring his highly-educated family with him.
 However, he also said that Finland would be an attractive destination for Indians wishing to move abroad, explaining that Indians have even thrived in places that aren't well known for welcoming immigrants, like Japan.
 "Finland should hire Indians because we are hard working and also smart workers," he said.
 However, with so many opportunities around the world, Finland will need to compete with other Western countries to attract the most educated immigrants.
 "I believe Indians would be an asset in Finland if the country was interested in starting a recruitment programme here," Sandhu said.

Finland often overlooked by educated Indians wishing to move West


Summary: The group also called for significantly tightened epidemic restrictions on bars and restaurants across the Helsinki region, recommending that establishments require the use of Covid passes at all times.

Due to the worsening epidemic situation, on Tuesday the Helsinki metropolitan area coronavirus coordination group announced it had tightened recommendations regarding people's use of face masks in public places, regardless of their vaccination status.
 The new recommendations went into effect immediately late on Tuesday afternoon, and will be in effect until 16 January, 2022.
 The group has recommended that everyone use face masks in indoor settings as well as vehicles where other people are present. The guidance means that the use of face masks is also being recommended at all educational institutions from grade 6 upwards.
 The group recommended that local public transport providers HSL and VR restore their recommendations regarding face mask use.
 The coordination group recommended that employers reinstate telecommuting arrangements for workers.
 The Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District's (HUS) Acting Chief Medical Officer,  Jari Petäjä , said that area hospitals have made plans to postpone non-coronavirus related surgeries and procedures in order to secure ICU bed space for the district's growing number of Covid patients.
 Petäjä said at the coordination group's press conference on Tuesday that the number of new Covid cases in the HUS area was about as high as during last spring's infection peak.
 Call for constant use of Covid pass
 The coordination group also called on Prime Minister  Sanna Marin 's (SDP) government to significantly tighten epidemic restrictions on bars and restaurants, recommending that all establishments in the metropolitan area require the use of Covid passes at all times.
 At the briefing, Helsinki Mayor  Juhana Vartiainen  (NCP) appealed to affected businesses.
 "Use of the Covid pass must be more widespread, made into a long-term, normal practice," Vartiainen said.
 Vartiainen's counterpart from the City of Espoo,  Jukka Mäklelä , said the new recommendations were possibly the first of future measures, depending on the situation that develops.
 "If these recommendations do not help — meaning if infections do not start declining — new, [more] restrictive measures will need to be considered, especially for public events," he said.
 The Mayor of Vantaa,  Ritva Viljanen , apologised for the city's problems in infection tracing, saying there has not been enough time to reach all of those potentially exposed to the virus quickly enough. She said the city's limited tracing resources were being specifically targeted towards large spreads of coronavirus.
 Some communities across the region already tightened their recommendations about the use of face masks, ahead of the coordination group's announcement on Tuesday. These communities include Lohja, which recommended that face masks should again be used at local schools. The same policy was also taken into use in Hyvinkää, Nurmijärvi, Tuusula, Järvenpää, Mäntsälä and Pornais.
 Earlier on Tuesday it was reported that the coronavirus coordination group of Southwest Finland reinstated recommendations for people across the region to work remotely. The group also issued a strong recommendation for everyone — including fully-vaccinated individuals — to wear face masks in all situations where it is not possible to maintain safe distances from others, both indoors and outdoors.
 A coronavirus coordination group in Pirkanmaa has also issued similar recommendations.

Capital area coronavirus group reissues mask, distance working recommendations


Summary: Street parking is to become much rarer in central Helsinki.

Mari Laaksonen 's driving style quickly reveals that she has driven in Helsinki city centre for more than 20 years.
 In a blink of an eye she spots the first empty space after 10 minutes driving around, and smoothly parallel parks into it.
 "The latest joke is the cycle racks placed in parking spaces by the city! Then you lose two parking places per section of street," said Laaksonen.
 Laaksonen owns a cleaning firm, CleanMarin, whose customers are mostly located in the city centre.
 The firm's cars move from one location to the next, so finding a space is almost a second profession for her workers.
 "A company parking permit costs 740 euro per year," said Laaksonen. "The permit means that you have the right to park on the street — it doesn't mean there will be a space for you to park in."
 Laaksonen does not just speak for her own firm — she is also chair of the Helsinki chapter of the Federation of Finnish Enterprises.
 The organisation conducted a members' survey this autumn, in which firms were found to be particularly concerned about the lack of on-street parking and the prices they pay to use it.
 The survey asked around a hundred firms operating in the city centre for their opinions on parking. Some 80 percent said that there are not enough short-stay parking spaces above ground in the district. More than 70 percent of respondents said parking is too expensive on weekdays.
 Hundreds of spaces disappear in the city centre
 Dozens of spaces have disappeared from the city centre, especially around roadworks in the Kruununhaka district.
 In addition, new tram lines in western Helsinki also require space currently taken up by parked cars. Some 180 spaces are set to disappear thanks to the tram works in the coming years.
 Other spaces are to be removed on Fredrikinkatu, Runeberginkatu, Topeliuksenkatu and Nordenskiöldinkatu.
 There is a shortage of space in the city, according to Helsinki's head of transport and street planning,  Reetta Putkonen .
 "If we were able to put cars underground, we could use the street space for city-dwellers' other needs," said Putkonen.
 Parking prices set by supply and demand
 The city of Helsinki has this autumn prepared a plan for parking charges, to be presented to political decision-makers in the spring.
 The main principle behind the plan is the law of supply and demand, with the price determined by how many people want to use the space.
 "Through pricing we are better able to free up space for short-stay parking, which is important for those with business to conduct in the city," said Putkonen.
 According to the plan, the price of a resident's parking permit could rise to 90 euros per month, and 93 euros per month for company parking.
 That's three times more than the current 30 euros per month.
 If the maximum annual increase in parking prices is implemented, the price of parking on the street will rise above seven euros per hour in the most desirable spots.
 The new plan means that prices could change as often as once a month once the real-time pricing strategy kicks in.

Street parking in Helsinki could rise to 7 euros an hour with dynamic pricing


Finland's national rail carrier VR has announced that passengers will be asked to show a Covid pass in order to be served in the restaurant carriage of trains.
 The new measure will come into effect from Sunday, 28 November.
 In a press release, the company said that the practice was being introduced on rail services in line with updated guidelines from authorities and because of the deteriorating coronavirus situation in Finland.
 This means that all train passengers over the age of 16 will be asked to show the pass at the checkout of the restaurant carriage.
 The company's statement added that people that do not have a Covid pass can still travel on VR services.
 The strong recommendation that all passengers wear face masks remains in place.

VR to request Covid pass in restaurant carriage


Summary: There are no direct flights between Finland and southern Africa, but passengers can arrive from the region via connecting routes.

Public health authority THL has recommended that people in Finland avoid traveling to southern Africa because of a  new coronavirus variant  that is believed to be highly contagious.
 The European Commission plans to propose the suspension of air travel from southern Africa, according to media reports, but authorities in Finland have so far made no decision on passengers arriving from the region.
 The United Kingdom announced on Thursday that it is placing South Africa on a travel 'red list' after scientists described the variant as the worst Covid-19 variant ever identified, the Guardian  reported .
 "Currently, there are no direct flights from South Africa to Finland, so this does not require acute action,"  Jarkko Saarimäki , Director General of the Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, told Yle.
 The new variant has not as yet been detected in Finland, but the first diagnosis in Europe was found in Belgium earlier on Friday.
 Finland's national airline Finnair does not fly directly to any destinations in southern Africa, and the company stated on Friday that there have been no updated guidelines or instructions from authorities on border restrictions.
 This means that passengers can still come to Finland from southern Africa via connecting flights.
 "The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency can only intervene in direct threats to health safety. The danger posed by connecting flights must be prepared for," Saarimäki said.
 Minister of Transport and Communications  Timo Haraka  (SDP) said it is now essential that the EU member states cooperate with each other.
 "The most effective way to prevent the virus variant from spreading is to prevent direct flights from southern Africa to Europe," Harakka said.
 Lab tests will determine danger posed by new variant
 Initial research into the new variant suggests it may have twice as many mutations as the Delta variant. This could mean that current vaccines may not be as effective in protecting against the virus variant, and that it may be more highly contagious.
 However, the danger posed by the new variant is yet to be determined.
 Olli Vapalahti, a Professor of Virology at the University of Helsinki, told Yle that it is still too early to say how dangerous the new variant could be, adding that more detailed data will be collected in laboratory studies over the coming weeks.
 Traficom's Saarimäki said the agency will continue to monitor the situation and will act accordingly.
 "If the need for restrictions arises, we will be ready to take immediate action together with the health authorities," he said.

Finland not banning connecting flights from southern Africa despite new Covid variant


Summary: More travellers are expected to arrive at Helsinki Airport from southern Africa next week.

The government is to decide on Sunday afternoon about entry restrictions for people arriving from southern Africa, Interior Minister  Krista Mikkonen  (Green) said on Twitter.
 Officials have been scrambling to react to Thursday's news of a new, apparently much more infectious variant of Covid-19, first identified in South Africa last week.
 It has been detected in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium as well as Israel and Hong Kong, with suspected cases in the Czech Republic and Germany.
 On Saturday, regional administrative agencies ordered  mandatory health checks  at border crossing points for passengers who have been in certain southern African countries within the past two weeks. These countries are South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini (Swaziland), Mozambique and Malawi.
 Omicron is the most mutated form of Covid-19 seen so far, with 32 mutations to the spike protein. It was named and declared a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organisation on Friday.
 Recent arrivals asymptomatic
 Only a few people have arrived at Helsinki Airport from South Africa in recent days, and they have been asymptomatic,  Timo Aronkytö , Deputy Mayor and Head of Health and Social Services in Vantaa, told the Finnish news agency STT on Sunday morning.
 Test results from those tested on Saturday will be available on Sunday, but according to Aronkytö, the assumption is that the results are negative.
 Due to the new omicron virus variant, mandatory testing began at Helsinki Airport on Saturday for passengers who have been in southern Africa recently. The city of Vantaa, where the airport is situated, is responsible for health checks.
 Aronkytö says that next week dozens of people are expected to arrive in Finland from South Africa, some of whom are continuing their journey from Helsinki to other places.
 On Friday afternoon, the Finnish Foreign Ministry recommended avoiding all travel to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Cabinet to decide on new entry restrictions; few arrivals from southern Africa at Helsinki Airport so far


Summary: Police in Uusimaa have launched preliminary investigations into seven suspected homicides over the course of a week, tabloid Iltalehti reports.

Helsingin Sanomat  writes  that the fate of a  controversial new traffic tunnel  in the Sörnäinen area of Helsinki will be decided at a meeting of the City Council beginning on Wednesday afternoon.
 HS called around the councillors to get a sense of how the vote might go, and found that a majority are planning to vote in favour of the project moving forward.
 All but one delegate from the biggest party on the council — the National Coalition Party (NCP) — said they intended to vote for the tunnel, the paper writes, and although many Finns Party delegates said they were still on the fence about the project, HS believes a majority of the party's councillors will vote in favour.
 "The party's leader on the council,  Mari Rantanen , said that she is in favour of the tunnel, and support from the Finns Party will also come with the vote of [former party leader]  Jussi Halla-aho ," HS writes.
 Votes against the tunnel will come en masse from the Greens and the Left Alliance, as well as from — HS notes in a  separate article  — from city councillor, MP and Minister of Transport and Communications  Timo Harakka  (SDP).
 In a "brief but concise" blog post on Tuesday evening, the minister wrote that the tunnel was "unnecessary", underlining the split among Social Democrats on the council.
 The 1.6-kilometre tunnel is estimated to cost approximately 180 million euros. If the project is given the green light at Wednesday's council meeting, construction could begin as early as next year with the aim of the tunnel being open for traffic by the early 2030s.
 Dark days
 Tabloid Ilta-Sanomat  writes  that November has been a dark month for the Uusimaa region, in more ways than one.
 Over the course of just one week, IS reports, police in the region have launched preliminary investigations into seven suspected homicides spread over five different cases — three in Eastern Uusimaa and two in Helsinki.
 The cases include a man in his late 30s  suspected of killing his parents  in Vantaa and the  suspected murders  of a mother and her child in Porvoo followed by the death of the father of the family in a road crash in Helsinki later the same morning.
 Seppo Kujala , Deputy Chief of Police at the Eastern Uusimaa Police Department, told IS that he does not remember a police department in Finland ever previously having to deal with five suspected homicides in the space of one week.
 "This is indeed exceptional, and eyebrows were already raised even before this latest incident that took place this weekend in Vantaa," Kujala said.
 He added that the investigations are at too early a stage to draw any wider conclusions about why so many suspected homicides occurred over such a short period of time, but he noted that each of the cases did not appear to follow "typical" lines.
 "A typical Finnish homicide is one in which there is a group of intoxicated people and then things, for whatever reason, suddenly turn violent. This does not seem to be the case here, as these recent cases are believed to have different backgrounds," Kujala said.
 Fair Play supporting roles
 Tabloid Iltalehti  writes  that while Finland does not have any direct involvement in this year's Fair Play Awards, decided by world football's governing body FIFA, two of the three nominations do involve the Finnish team or players.
 The first nomination is for the Danish medical team and players who  responded heroically  after  Christian Eriksen  collapsed on the pitch during the team's Euro 2020 match against Finland in Copenhagen in June. The team created a circle around Eriksen to shield him from cameras while the medical team administered life-saving CPR.
 In the second nomination to involve Finnish players, IL writes that former Glasgow Celtic captain  Scott Brown  has been recognised for offering a show of support to Finland and Glasgow Rangers  Glen Kamara  after the latter had been a  victim of racial abuse .
 Brown approached Kamara before the 'Old Firm' derby between fierce city rivals Rangers and Celtic — not usually an occasion for the exchanging of pre-match pleasantries — to shake the Finnish international's hand.
 The game was Kamara's first following an incident involving Czech player  Ondřej Kúdela , for which Kúdela later received a 10-match suspension.

Wednesday's papers: Tunnel vote, dark November and football fair play


Summary: The 10,000-hectare area in Lapland will become Finland's 41st National Park.

Finland's Parliament on Tuesday approved a government proposal to establish Sallatunturi National Park in Finnish Lapland.
 The approximately 10,000-hectare area of diverse ecology is located along the country's northeastern border with Russia, in close proximity to the Sallatunturi Nature Reserve, and will become Finland's 41st national park.
 The initiative to establish the park originated from within the municipality itself, with MP and Environment Committee member  Mari-Leena Talvitie  (NCP) telling Parliament's plenary session that cooperation with local agencies and organisations has progressed smoothly.
 The government's fourth supplementary budget of 2021 allocated some 4.5 million euros towards the cost of establishing the park.
 However, Talvitie said that the Environment Committee is concerned about ongoing funding for the park, as the maintenance of camping facilities alone constantly requires additional resources.
 Minister of the Interior  Krista Mikkonen  (Green) told Parliament that the Salla National Park is expected to increase jobs in the area by 90 person-years — a HR term that calculates the amount of work carried out by one member of staff throughout the year, expressed in hours — and annual tax revenues by a total of 400,000 euros over the next seven years.
 Mikkonen added that the park will support sustainable nature tourism, as it can be reached by public transport from southern Finland.

Finland approves establishment of Salla National Park


Summary: The negotiations could lead to about 20 employees losing their jobs.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland's National Council has announced the beginning of codetermination talks that could result in up to 20 employees losing their jobs.
 The negotiations will focus on the terms and working conditions of National Council employees only, some 225 people, but will not affect employees of the church's Service Centre, Kipa, which provides accounting and payroll services to parishes and dioceses nationwide.
 The church is aiming to save a total of 966,000 euros for the years 2023–2024.
 In a statement, the council said that the possible merging of operations, changes to the division of labour and adjustments to the council's organisational structure would also form part of the codetermination negotiations.
 "The tightening of the church's finances has long been anticipated as the church's tax revenues have not risen, but at the same time net expenditures have increased,"  Juha Tuohimäki , director of the council's finance department, wrote in a press release. "The contribution to the church's central fund was reduced from the beginning of 2018, which permanently reduced income by 13.3 percent."
 The council has ruled that the church's central fund be rebalanced by the beginning of 2023, by which time central fund contributions and operating income should cover all expenses.
 The council's statement added the need for adjustment could ultimately total some 3 million euros.

National Church Council begins redundancy talks


Summary: The government is to discuss restaurant restrictions, extending the use of Covid passes to workplaces and vaccinating children under 12 next week.

Finland's government will discuss the possible introduction of more restrictions aimed at curbing the recent uptick in Covid infections at a ministerial meeting early next week, Prime Minister  Sanna Marin  (SDP) said on Wednesday.
 "The coronavirus situation is worrying," Marin said. "It is now more important than ever that everyone gets the vaccines available to them."
 Pressure on authorities to act has intensified over the past week as Covid cases have hit record daily numbers, with the Helsinki metropolitan area coronavirus coordination group  calling on the government  on Tuesday to impose stricter measures on the operations and opening hours of bars and restaurants.
 Public health authority THL reported 1,007 lab-confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, following the recording of 1,088 infections on Tuesday and 2,616 registered over the weekend.
 Helsingin Sanomat meanwhile  reported  (in Finnish) on Wednesday that there is a dispute within the government about travel restrictions.
 HS writes that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health as well as the majority of government ministers want unvaccinated passengers arriving in Finland to undergo two coronavirus tests — one on arrival and a second three days later — but the Centre Party are opposed to the measure.
 The government is also expected to make decisions on extending the use of Covid passes to workplaces as well as vaccinating children under 12 during next week's negotiations.

PM Marin promises decisions next week to curb "worrying" Covid spread


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).

Etla: Forest industry, car batteries will pull Finland out of Covid doldrums


Summary: Polar night has begun in northernmost Finland, where the sun will not reappear until mid-January.

Polar night, known in Finnish as  kaamos , began in northernmost Finland on Wednesday, and will inch further south day by day.
 The sun appeared in Nuorgam, a village of 200 people in the northernmost municipality of Utsjoki, for the last time until early 2022. The next time the sun peeks over the horizon in Utsjoki will be around noon on 17 January after a polar night of 54 days.
 As winter progresses, the polar night creeps towards the Arctic Circle.
 In Ivalo, the long darkness begins on 1 December, when the sun sinks below the horizon at 12:22. After a polar night of 40 days, the sun will reappear in Ivalo at 12:02 on 9 January.
 In Sodankylä, the  kaamos  period is considerably shorter, from 13 December to the 29th.
 The border of polar night runs a degree north of the Arctic Circle, or about 67.3 degrees north latitude. That is in Aska in the municipality of Sodankylä, 114 km north of Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland.

Finnish Lapland slips into polar night


Summary: The events industry says that current patchwork coronavirus restrictions by regional authorities are confusing, and that the Covid pass should be quickly introduced throughout the country.

With coronavirus infection rates rising, organisers of cultural events are once again worried about how to survive.
 According to  Maria Sahlstedt , director of communications at the Event Industry Association, there is strong support for requiring the Covid pass (officially the EU Digital Covid Certificate) at all public events throughout the sector.
 "Especially now that the pandemic situation is worsening and the number of infections is rising, there is clearly a need for the Covid pass," she said.
 Article continues after photo
 Maria Sahlstedt, director of communications at the Event Industry Association, says there is strong support for the Covid pass throughout the sector. Jukka Salminen
 By displaying the Covid pass, a customer proves full vaccination coverage, a recent negative test result, or recovery from the disease within the required time limit.
 According to Sahlsted, current coronavirus restrictions are confusing, and customers no longer know where the Covid pass is required and where it is not.
 "Restrictions vary widely around the country. Many individual operators would like to introduce a Covid pass but if they are not subject to the restrictions imposed by a Regional State Administrative Agency (Avi), they cannot do so by law," she said.
 "We hope that the regional administrations will have a unified line throughout the country. We want clarity so that the Covid pass can be introduced everywhere," Sahlstedt added.
 National Theatre wants Covid pass ASAP
 The Director General of the National Theatre,  Mika Myllyaho , also wants his institution to be able to check customers' passes.
 "I believe that the Covid pass should be introduced immediately. We'd like to use it and have the capacity to do so," he said.
 Article continues after photo
 The Director General of the National Theatre, Mika Myllyaho, also wishes that his institution could check customers' passes. Sasha Silvala / Yle
 "At the moment, our ticket sales have completely frozen up, because the Covid pass is not in use and people are hesitant," Myllyaho told Yle.
 The Covid pass can only be used in areas where regional authorities have imposed restrictions on gatherings for public events.
 It is up to each event organiser to decide whether to require Covid passes from customers or to alternately comply with restrictions on the number of attendees.
 For example, on Monday the Avi for Western and Inland Finland ordered restrictions on indoor gatherings in the Pirkanmaa Hospital District, where the epidemic is spreading.
 As a result, the Tampere Theatre has been able to use the Covid pass, unlike the National Theatre in Helsinki. The Tampere Theatre requires passes from all customers over the age of 16.
 "Extremely little negative feedback"
 Sahlstedt noted that ticket sales picked up at those cultural and sporting events where passes were required in October.
 "The Covid pass brings clarity, and customers feel that the pass strengthens their sense of security. There has been extremely little negative feedback," she told Yle.
 According to Sahlstedt, the experiences of the event organisers have also been mainly positive.
 "The introduction of the pass has been straightforward, as visitors' entry tickets are checked in any case. It doesn’t cause as much extra work as in restaurants, for example," she pointed out.
 License to rock
 Since mid-October, the rock club Tavastia in Helsinki has required a Covid pass for entry.
 According to programme manager  Mikko Merimaa , the feedback has been mainly positive.
 Article continues after photo
 Venerable Helsinki rock club Tavastia requires a Covid pass for entry. Fans at an Ursus Factory gig on 15 July, 2021.  Sini Järnström/ Yle
 "Because of the pass, customers have felt safe coming to Tavastia for gigs, and our staff has treated the situation in the same way. We have received some negative feedback, though, mainly on social media, because there are also people who oppose the pass," said Merimaa.
 Movie theatres require pass in some cities – but not Helsinki
 At Finnkino cinemas in Turku and Pori, the Covid pass has been mandatory since last week. In Oulu, it will be introduced on Friday. For now, a pass is not required for cinemas in the Helsinki region.
 "As the Avi has only placed restrictions on events without reserved seats, they don't apply to cinemas in the Helsinki metropolitan area," explained  Hannele Wolf-Mannila , Sales Director of the largest cinema chain, Finnkino.
 Residents of Finland can download their Covid passes from the official  My Kanta  website. When attending an event, the QR code can be displayed on a mobile device or on paper.

Events industry calls for mandatory Covid pass at all venues


Summary: Financial group Nordea has launched an internal investigation into a controversial investment analysis that was accused of blatantly promoting anti-vaccine views.

Several newspapers report on Thursday morning that  Perttu Nousiainen ,a former youth foundation chairman wanted for financial crimes, returned to Finland on Wednesday, after evading authorities for a year and a half.
 Nousiainen, who was chairman of the board of the Finnish Youth Foundation from 2010 to 2018, was  suspected  of bribery and other crimes after it was revealed he approved several questionable property transactions.
 He reportedly made the decision to return to Finland after investigative journalists from  Helsingin Sanomat  located him at an abandoned ski resort in Verbier in the Swiss Alps.
 Nousianen arrived, accompanied by the journalists, on a flight to Finland on Wednesday evening and was immediately taken into police custody. The 42-year-old had been operating under a false identity and first went under the radar after disappearing in Tallinn, Estonia in March 2020.
 The state prosecutor has charged Nousiainen, along with  Aki Haaro , the former CEO of the Youth Foundation, with several financial crimes, including bribery, embezzlement and aggravated fraud this week.
 Nordea investigates anti-vaccine report
 Iltalehti  writes  that financial group Nordea has launched an internal investigation into a controversial investment analysis that was accused of blatantly promoting anti-vaccine views.
 The analysis, which was published on the bank's website on Sunday, reportedly criticised Covid-19 restrictions which "imprison the unvaccinated" and claimed that vaccines increase the risk of infections, rather than fighting them.
 It also suggested that data regarding the number of patients hospitalised for the Covid-19 virus was unreliable.
 The report sparked several heated discussions on social media platforms such as Twitter, with users pointing out that the views expressed were in stark contrast with Nordea's official stance on vaccination.
 Nordea announced it was taking the analysis off its website after MP  Mikko Kärnä  (Centre) drew attention to it in a  tweet  on Wednesday.
 Every fifth principal suffers from exhaustion
 North Karelian daily Karjalainen  highlights  a new survey that found school principals in Finland are suffering from increased work-related stress and exhaustion.
 According to the survey, which was conducted in spring, one in five principals reported experiencing exhaustion, while 45 percent said they felt they were at risk of exhaustion.
 This can be attributed to increased workloads and stress related to the Covid-19 crisis, Karjalainen writes. The results of the study indicate that high school principals are most likely to face work-related exhaustion due to factors such as new curriculums.
 The survey also suggests that exhaustion among head teachers is on the rise, as 26 percent of respondents reported experiencing moderate to severe exhaustion this year, compared to 17 percent last year.

Thursday's papers: Missing criminal returns, anti-vaxx financial report and exhausted principals


Summary: The 1.6-kilometre tunnel is estimated to cost approximately 180 million euros.

Helsinki City Council has approved the construction of a new traffic tunnel in the Sörnäinen area of the capital.
 The 1.6-kilometre tunnel will cost an estimated 180 million euros and is intended to facilitate north-south traffic, by moving cars -- particularly around the districts of Kalasatama, Suvilahti and Teurastamo -- below ground.
 The controversial project has been the subject of a years-long heated political debate which continued at the council meeting that preceded the approval vote on Wednesday evening.
 The strongest opposition to the tunnel came from the Left Alliance and the Green Party, with Left Alliance councillor  Mia Haglund  openly expressing her disappointment at the outcome of the council's vote.
 "Of course it is annoying and should annoy everyone," Haglund said.
 Green Party councillor  Anni Sinnemäki  — who is also Deputy Mayor of the City of Helsinki with responsibility for Urban Environment — echoed Haglund's comments, adding that she believes the tunnel is taking the capital's urban planning in the wrong direction.
 "The goal is to reduce emissions and the tunnel increases them," she said, adding that instead of a project that facilitates more urban car usage, she would have preferred planning that supports walking, biking and public transportation.
 NCP delegates welcome council approval
 Proponents of the tunnel project on the council — especially members of the National Coalition Party (NCP) — welcomed the approval, saying they see the effects and the benefits of the tunnel differently from the opponents of the project.
 NCP councillor  Daniel Sazonov  stated that the tunnel is a prerequisite for building new environmentally-friendly transport solutions, such as high-speed rail networks.
 "Here we are looking for a broad traffic solution and the tunnel will make this possible," Sazonov said.
 Construction could begin as early as next year with the aim of the tunnel being open for traffic by the early 2030s.

Helsinki City Council approves controversial traffic tunnel


Summary: More patients are currently being treated in Finnish hospitals for the virus than at any other time during the pandemic.

The first moments of a baby born to a mother with Covid are etched in the mind of  Eerika Puolitaival , a nurse in the pulmonary disease ward of Päijät-Häme Central Hospital in the city of Lahti.
 "A baby delivered by Caesarean section was immediately separated from its mother and brought to the newborn ward, the mother went to the Covid ward and the father was sick at home," she said of moments that have stuck in her mind during the pandemic.
 Puolitaival's unit became her hospital's Covid ward during the pandemic, sometimes even caring for entire families. The age distribution of patients, she told Yle, can vary from newborn baby to elderly grandparent — and the range of different patients can lead to a multitude of different challenges.
 Elderly people with memory problems do not always know where they are, and some of them write distressed letters to their caregivers, asking for help.
 Drug addicts, on the other hand, have had to be kept in isolation on the ward, often against their will, under the terms of Finland's Communicable Diseases Act.
 Puolitaival described how the unit is divided into 'dirty' and 'clean' sides. Patients can get to the 'clean' side when they are no longer considered to be contagious, or about 20 days after becoming infected.
 There are a total of 20 beds on the dirty side: ten isolation rooms and three air proofed rooms. There are currently 19 patients being treated on that side.
 No visitors are admitted to the dirty side, with the exception of people who have recovered from the virus.
 Puolitaival described how she and her colleagues always go from the clean side to the dirty side by following the same pattern of preparation: firstly hand disinfectant, then the FFP3 mask, protective head covering, plastic overalls, and hand disinfectant again. They also put rubber gloves on their hands, maybe even a few pairs, and no rings.
 After the patient has been treated, the protective clothing is removed in the isolated space between the two sides and discarded. Masks are only ever changed on the clean side. Still, despite all these careful preparations, there will still be exposures to the virus.
 During the course of one shift, Puolitaival may have to change equipment up to ten times, and takes about 10,000 steps.
 A large proportion of Covid-19 patients in Päijät-Häme are unvaccinated. Their risk of being hospitalised is 19 times higher than that of people who are double-vaccinated. The typical Covid patient in the hospital is a working-age, overweight man.
 A Covid infection often comes as a surprise to most patients, as was the case for 57-year-old  Jouni Marttinen . He thought the prolonged fever was common in the autumn flu.
 Marttinen told Yle he had been in good health, exercised a lot for his age, and had made jokes about the coronavirus vaccine. Then he fell ill and was rushed to hospital via ambulance in November.
 Marttinen's inflammation levels were high and oxygen saturation low, and he was transferred to the intensive care unit. Referring to the nurses' protective clothing, Marttinen calls the unit "astronaut treatment".
 He was given supplemental oxygen, which he still receives, and he described the most frightening aspect of a Covid infection as being the feeling of suffocation.
 "I tried to calm my mind by humming the childhood songs that my mother sang in the evenings at bedtime. That's how I eventually got some sleep. I also had an indescribable gratitude for being in such good care," he said.
 When Eerika Puolitaival arrives to begin her shift, she does not always know when she will finish work and get home to her children, although working overtime is voluntary. However, there are often one or even two nurses missing from the coronavirus ward per shift, with an average shortage of three nurses every day.
 Puolitaival said she tries to avoid overtime, but she often works double shifts: an evening shift on top of a morning shift or a night shift after an evening shift.
 Nurses receive emergency pay for working overtime, but supervisors at the hospital think it's a double-edged sword. Many nurses may find themselves working too much because the basic salary in the healthcare sector is low.
 Patients do not always realise when their oxygen levels are dropping, and may even feel fine so detach their oxygen tubes, according to Puolitaival. In this type of situation, the nurse must be one step ahead, she explained, as unvaccinated patients can crash very quickly.
 Emotions also tend to run high. Patients get irritated when nurses are working around them on what can seem like a constant basis.
 This was the case for Marttinen.
 "I couldn't sleep. It was foggy and confusing. I was angry with the nurses. It's annoying, even though they held my hand and tried to help," Marttinen recalled.
 A healthy person breathes about 12 times a minute, a person with a severe Covid infection breathes 30 to 40 times. This is because an inflammatory condition develops in the lungs. When breathing becomes wheezing it is a clear sign for nurses that the patient's condition is worsening.
 In severe Covid-19 infections, the transfer of oxygen to the body becomes more difficult and therefore extra oxygen is needed, even via a ventilator.
 Marttinen compared the feeling of a lack of oxygen to when, as a young man, he dived under the ice at his parents' summer cottage.
 "I couldn't see the light, and my sense of direction disappeared. I searched in the dark looking for the hole in the ice. A lack of oxygen is similar but lasts longer. There is a feeling that this will never be overcome," he described.
 The number of Covid patients in hospitals across Finland is currently higher than at any other stage during the pandemic. Most of the patients are in Helsinki University Hospital's area of responsibility, which also includes Päijät-Häme Central Hospital in Lahti.
 The cost of treating Covid patients is expensive for taxpayers. The cost of one drug, given to Covid patients as an infusion, costs one thousand euros per dose alone. Another costly medicine, heparin — which prevents blood clots — is also provided.
 Marttinen, for example, has received almost the entire range of medicines available to treat a Covid patient.
 According to figures provided by the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district (HUS), hospital treatment for one Covid patient costs an average of 16,000 euros.
 Marttinen spent five days in intensive care. From there he was transferred to an isolated section of the hospital's Covid ward and eventually, a few days later, he was transferred to the 'clean' side.
 He made the 30-metre journey from the dirty side to the clean side in a wheelchair, connected all the time to an oxygen supply. For a man who had considered himself to be in good health, the collapse of his fitness and the loss of muscle mass have been a shock. A drop in his oxygen levels as he described the transfer demonstrated that even talking is an effort.
 "Even a toilet trip in a wheelchair is as tough as the Cooper's test used to be when I was young. It's hard to put in words. There is this feeling of having given absolutely everything when in reality you have not really done anything," he said.
 While on the ward, Marttinen called some people he had met before his infection was diagnosed. He has been troubled by the fact that he may have unknowingly spread the virus.
 Marttinen added that he believes people's reasons for not getting vaccinated are not necessarily straightforward. There may be depression, loneliness or a feeling of social isolation behind people's reasons for not wanting to get jabbed.
 "No one intentionally infects another. I've never been a model student, but it's a shame and annoying that I didn't get vaccinated. I especially recommend young people to take what doctors say seriously," he said.
 On Päijät-Häme Central Hospital's Covid ward, the day has been very busy. A male patient has been brought to Marttinen's former isolation room. The elderly man in the neighbouring booth has been fighting for his life all day, while another is preparing to go home via a taxi covered by Finland's social insurance institution Kela.
 "The fact that I'm here now is bigger than winning the lottery. I am deeply grateful to all the healthcare staff who have helped me," Marttinen said.
 Despite the heavy toll of working at the heart of the pandemic, the nurses at Päijät-Häme Central Hospital still smile behind their masks. According to Puolitaival, the sincere gratitude expressed by patients helps to drive them on. Humour helps too.
 However, there are times when the best efforts of the workers on the ward are not enough, and the patient should be transferred — but there is nowhere for them to go.
 "I'm alone in the room with the patient. Without a computer, without a phone. I'm pressing the alarm for help. That's when the protective clothing starts to feel awkward and the sweat starts to flow."
 Sometimes a patient dies on the ward without anyone holding their hand. This can occur in particular if their loved ones are quarantined at home.
 "The worst thing is when you know that even if you do your best, it is not enough," Puolitaival said.

Heart of the epidemic


Summary: The mercury dropped to -32.2℃ in Utsjoki on Wednesday.

Finland's northernmost municipality Utsjoki has broken this winter's cold weather record for the second time. The Kevojärvi weather station, located in the village of Kevo in Utsjoki, registered a temperature of -32.2℃ on Wednesday night.
 According to a  tweet  by  Mika Rantanen , a researcher at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, this is the lowest temperature recorded in November in Finland since 2010, when the mercury fell to -34℃ at the same weather station.
 Kevojärvi previously broke this year's low temperature record with -29℃ on Monday night.
 The station also registered Finnish Lapland's  highest temperature  on record this summer — 33.5℃ in July — indicating a whopping 65℃ drop in the past four months.
 Wintry weather has hit other parts of Northern Lapland as well, with the mercury dropping well below zero in the villages of Nuorgam (-26℃) in the Utsjoki municipality and Kaamanen (-25℃) and Nellim (-24℃) in Inari.

Lapland village registers coldest November temperature since 2010


Summary: More than a dozen people were killed every year in Finland during the 1990s by accidents involving elk, but this figure has now dropped to between one and four per year.

Authorities in Finland registered a total of 1,527 road traffic accidents involving elk last year.
 Three people lost their lives in the accidents, one car driver and two motorcyclists.
 During the 1990s, more than a dozen people died on Finnish roads in elk or deer crashes each year but in that number has dropped recently to between one and four.
 The decrease in deaths is partly due to the decline in Finland's deer population as well as the widespread construction of game fences and the clearing of roadsides.
 However, according to the Finnish Crash Data Institute (OTI), the most significant factor in the decline is the improvement in car safety.
 "An elk is now more likely to remain outside of the car in a crash situation. In the past, the roof of the car would fold in like a can of sardines," OTI's traffic safety manager  Esa Räty  told Yle.
 Story continues after the photo.
 File photo of an elk by the side of a road near the city of Lappeenranta, May 2017. Tommi Parkkinen / Yle
 Cars are structurally more robust than they were 20 years ago, and safety technology and design have also evolved.
 "In addition to the fact that the cars are bigger and more robust, their safety features are better. Windshields are also more durable. The car has airbags, which has not necessarily been the norm before," according to  Taina Levänen , a sales representative at the AutoSun car dealership in Kouvola.
 However, not all safety equipment is standard and different car manufacturers have their own features.
 "For example, some car manufacturers have active bonnets that rise up to protect the windscreen glass in the event of a collision," Levänen explained.
 Story continues after the photo.
 Larger and more robust cars offer better protection to drivers and passengers in the event of a crash. Pyry Sarkiola / Yle
 OTI's Räty added that improvements in emergency care has also had an effect on the number of people killed in elk crashes.
 Deer, reindeer crashes peak in November
 The majority of road crashes involving elk are in the months of July and August, with two out of every three accidents occurring at dusk or during the night. Lights are a big factor in preventing accidents.
 "Cars now have a variety of smart headlight options. When driving in the dark, they illuminate the forest side but do not dazzle cars coming from the other direction," Levänen said.
 Story continues after the photo.
 The Finnish Road Safety Council urges motorists to take heed of road signs. Pyry Sarkiola / Yle
 The number of car accidents involving reindeer and roe deer peaks during the month of November, and accidents involving game also occur a lot during the autumn. In November last year, there were a total of about 2,400 accidents involving deer, the majority of which were collisions with roe and reindeer.
 These accidents are mostly concentrated in the regions of Southwest Finland and Uusimaa.
 "The reindeer population has exploded, and there would be a justification to reduce its number, although deer collisions rarely lead to personal injuries," said  Juha Valtonen , a Research Manager at the Finnish Road Safety Council.
 The council encourages drivers to be vigilant and reduce speeds in areas where roe deer and reindeer are on the move.

OTI: Improvements in car safety behind sharp decline in deaths from elk, deer collisions


Summary: Finland registered over 1,340 coronavirus infections on Thursday, a new record high number of daily cases.

The rapidly rising number of coronavirus infections, especially among unvaccinated individuals, is placing an increasing burden on hospital wards and intensive care units, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare THL said on Thursday.
 At the end of last week, there were a total of 156 patients being treated in hospitals across Finland for the virus.
 As of Thursday afternoon, that figure now stands at 306.
 Speaking at Thursday morning's weekly coronavirus briefing jointly hosted by THL and the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health, THL's project manager  Anna Katz  said the risk of needing hospital treatment is significantly higher among unvaccinated people than those who have received both jabs.
 Between August and October, unvaccinated individuals were 19 times more likely to require hospital treatment and 33 times more likely to need intensive care.
 "This is the same story that has been going on for several weeks, if not a year and a half, that is, that the virus will find the unvaccinated," Katz said.
 Strain on healthcare system
 The number of coronavirus patients being admitted to intensive care units has almost tripled over the last three weeks.
 This is placing an increasing strain on Finland's healthcare system, most especially in the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital district (HUS) where a third of intensive care beds are now occupied by Covid patients.
 The increasing need to treat coronavirus patients has led to the widespread cancellation of non-urgent surgical procedures as well as some patient transplants.
 Unvaccinated face higher risk of infection, hospitalisation
 According to the figures released by THL on Thursday, unvaccinated people are three times more likely to become infected with the virus than vaccinated people.
 This is reflected by infection figures and also by hospital admissions, which reveal that the number of unjabbed patients is three or four times higher across all age groups except those over 30 years of age.
 "The number of unvaccinated people in both hospital and intensive care is much higher than that of people who have been vaccinated twice,"  Mia Kontio  of THL told the Thursday morning briefing.
 In addition, Kontio added that unvaccinated people over the age of 70 are five times more likely to die from the virus than double-jabbed people of the same age.
 Record high number of daily cases
 The number of coronavirus infections in Finland is continuing to rise.
 On Thursday THL registered 1,344 lab-confirmed cases. This is the highest number of daily cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic, beating the previous high of 1,259 cases reported last Thursday.
 In total, about 7,200 new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in Finland last week. This is significantly higher than the 4,000 infections reported during the last week of October.

THL: Unvaccinated patients putting strain on healthcare system


Summary: This year's event had been intended to honour Finland's healthcare professionals.

This year's Independence Day gala, which was set to take place at Helsinki's Presidential Palace on 6 December, has been cancelled.
 According to a  press release  from the President's Office, the event has been called off due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
 A separate event celebrating war veterans and members of Finland's Lotta Svärd organisation has also been cancelled.
 Earlier this month, President Sauli Niinistö  announced  that this year's gala would be limited to 200 guests, and would focus on honouring healthcare professionals.
 According to the press release, the reception could have proceeded as planned had it not been for an unfortunate loophole in current Covid-19 legislation, which prevents organisers from mandating the use of a Covid pass at official events.
 The annual tradition, which usually sees the Finnish president and their spouse greeting up to 2,000 guests, took place virtually last year.
 Those on this year's guest list will reportedly receive an invitation to the next Independence Day gala, to be held in 2022.
 While the details of this year's Independence Day celebrations are not yet clear, Yle will broadcast the event on 6 December.

President cancels Independence Day gala, cites worsening Covid situation


Summary: Restaurants and bars can however continue to operate free from restrictions if they require the Covid pass at all times.

With daily coronavirus cases hitting record highs, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services  Krista Kiuru  (SDP) on Thursday announced the extension of the Communicable Disease Act into June 2022 as well as updated restrictions on the operations and opening hours of bars and restaurants.
 According to the updated measures, bars and restaurants that do not require customers to show a Covid pass must stop serving at 5pm and close their doors at 6pm. In order to operate without restrictions, staff must ask for the Covid pass at all times.
 Businesses that do not sell alcohol, such as cafés, may continue to operate between the hours of 5am and 1am, regardless of whether they use the Covid pass or not.
 Yle has learned that the new restrictions will take effect on Sunday 28 November and will apply to bars and restaurants located in areas considered to be in the spreading phase of the pandemic.
 Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the minister revealed that the government is preparing a new vaccination strategy which will see vaccines rolled out to children aged between 5 and 11, and booster doses offered to people under the age of 60.
 The move comes after the European Agency for Disease Control (ECDC) recommended to EU member states that a third dose of the vaccine be given to all people over 40 years of age.
 The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is to issue a vaccine recommendation for children aged 5-11, which is why Finland has begun preparations, Kiuru said at the press briefing.

Finland tightens restaurant restrictions, announces boosters for under 60s


Summary: Take-home pay for gig workers, foreign name discrimination and the pitfalls of excessive consumerism headline this week's show.

Many food couriers say they would rather be entrepreneurs than employees—but are they really going to make as much as they think, after they pay VAT, income tax, pension and social contributions?
 All Points North attempts to break down the pay packets of those labouring in the gig economy to find out if the deal is more about freedom for workers—or cost reductions for companies.
 "It's a very good way to work and earn an income, but you have to know the facts before you get into it,"  Aicha Manai  of SME lobby Suomen Yrittäjät told APN, noting that sales of 2,000 euros will likely leave a sole trader some 1,500 euros prior to paying income tax.
 "The taxman never forgets," she added about the importance of entrepreneurs staying on top of pension contributions, VAT and income tax.
 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.
 Labour issues were also on the agenda this week following a story about job hunters  switching to "Finnish-sounding" surnames  to avoid discrimination.
 In addition to the latest Covid news, APN also explores recent social debate on racism in Finland sparked by an Yle TV1 programme, and this week's hosts also get tips on avoiding excessive consumerism ahead of the festive season.
 Join the conversation!
 This week's show was presented by  Egan Richardson  and  Zena Iovino . The audio engineer was  Anders Johansson .
 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: Taxing the gig economy


Summary: Thursday marks the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

According to the Finnish branch of UN Women, one in three women in Finland experiences intimate partner violence at some point in their lives.
 UN Women is a United Nations entity working for gender equality and the empowerment of women.
 This makes Finland the second most dangerous country for women within the EU, the NGO's statistics suggest, adding that nearly half of girls and women over the age of 15 experience some form of physical or sexual violence during their lifetime.
 The United Nations launched its 'End Violence against Women' campaign on Thursday, which will see 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, and is also known as the UN International Orange Days.
 The colour orange has been selected to mark the two-week period as a symbol of hope for a future where a violence-free life is everyone’s right.
 The annual campaign begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Thursday 25 November, and will end on Human Rights Day, 10 December.
 Crisis workers receiving more calls, police paying more visits
 Reports of violence against women in Finland, particularly intimate partner violence, have increased according to figures released by the Satakunta Social Services Emergency Department.
 By November 19 of this year, the department's emergency number received around 333 calls regarding cases of violence. In 2020, the corresponding number of reports was 250.
 Satakunta crisis worker  Anu Ahosmäki  said that the increased number of reports are likely linked to more time spent at home during the Covid pandemic.
 "The situation has been especially challenging for homes where there has been violence in the past. Tensions may be higher," Ahosmäki said, adding that increased calls may also however be attributed to an increase in awareness about the services available for victims of relationship violence.
 Some 550 Finnish addresses were visited three or more times last year following reports of violence, a National Police Board of Finland study revealed. Around 20 homes received up to 11 visits in the year, accounting to nearly one visit per month.
 Southwestern Finland Police Department sergeant  Teemu Huttunen  agreed that intimate partner violence is now becoming better recognised as an issue.
 "This is a very challenging phenomenon for the various authorities to identify and address. Fortunately, the police have learned how to better recognise it, and the means of tackling it are also more effective," Huttunen said.
 While statistics suggest that officers made more home visits due to domestic violence alerts during the coronavirus pandemic, the increase is not as stark as in the figures for social emergency services.
 "This may be due to the fact that it is often easier for a victim of violence to contact social services than to ask the police for help from the emergency centre," Huttunen said of the gap in the figures.
 Awareness is key
 "It is important to be aware of intimate partner violence as a phenomenon. I emphasise that one in three women still face intimate partner violence," social worker Ahosmäki said.
 She added that she is pleased with the support available at crisis services, emphasising that people have been more concerned about their neighbours, friends and acquaintances as a result of the pandemic.
 "Be worried about a friend if they are absent, crying, withdrawing, or if there is a bruise on their cheek. Ask whether everything is fine. Let’s at least give that person the chance to say no," the social worker said.
 In case of emergency, dial  112 . You can also contact the MIELI Crisis Helpline at  09 2525 0113 .

Report: One in three women in Finland experience relationship violence


Summary: European public service media companies are part of a co-ordinated effort to exchange text-based content and thereby increase understanding between Europeans.

Do you want to know what Portuguese people think about Covid vaccines? Or how Covid has persuaded French women to ditch their bras?
 That's the goal of the Window on Europe service that Yle is a part of. Ten members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) including Yle have joined together to share online content with each other.
 This project mirrors the video exchange that has operated for decades among EBU members, with text-based stories now shared between Belgium's RTBF, France Televisions, Germany's BR-ARD, Ireland's RTE, RAI from Italy, Portugal's RTP, Spain's RTVE, the Swiss SWI and the French-German company ARTE.
 "The goal is to improve Europeans' understanding of each other in these polarised times and help people see how other Europeans live," said Yle News Lab's  Jukka Niva  who is responsible for the project at Yle.
 Niva adds that as fake news spreads quickly in many European countries, companies that are part of EBU have a significant role in distributing trustworthy and verified information.
 The Window on Europe could, therefore, help combat fake news.
 "Public Service Media companies make news and background stories that are edited and checked and that comply with strict editorial processes," said Niva.
 The stories are in English for now, although in the long run the hope is that machine translation might be able to produce Finnish versions.
 "EBU is using the world's best translation programmes, but because these artificial intelligence-based translation programmes can be unreliable in Finnish, we are starting in English," said Niva.
 Niva says that the programmes' development is constantly followed by Yle's Eurovision unit, and if the quality of Finnish texts improves, they will then be published in Finnish too.
 Other EBU companies are, in turn, publishing Yle stories on their own sites. These stories come from Yle's English-language unit, Yle News.

Yle offers articles from public service media across Europe


Summary: The press continues to follow stories about Covid, after several developments on Thursday.

Finland's political leadership announced new measures to combat the spread of Covid on Thursday, with restaurant restrictions set to tighten and mask recommendations back in force.
 On Friday the papers cover the emergence of a  new variant in South Africa , along with the possible expansion of Covid pass usage to allow event organisers to  demand to see a Covid pass .
 That reform is in the works,  reports  Helsingin Sanomat, but it might not come into force until next February, because MPs' Christmas break traditionally lasts all through January. They could decide to interrupt it, however, if the Covid situation is deemed serious enough.
 Ilta-Sanomat, meanwhile, has  a look  at vaccination rates. The paper says that vaccination among those whose native language is not Finnish, Swedish or Sami is running at around 52 percent, compared to overall rates above 80 percent.
 The reasons are varied. Foreigners in Finland are younger than the general population, on average, and younger age groups generally have lower vaccine coverage.
 It can be more difficult to reach foreign language speakers with public health messages too, according to THL. Outreach efforts are continuing but with flu jabs and booster shots also on the agenda, in some places there are not enough staff to intensively target those who have not yet had their first and second Covid shots.
 Stop signs ignored
 Iltalehti picked up on a tweet from a Helsinki traffic cop who bemoaned the lack of adherence among drivers for stop signs.  Dennis Pasterstein  had written 'Report from the field. Stop signs seem to have lost all meaning'.
 IL  decided  to film a junction to check the veracity of the claim, and found that yes: most people don't fully stop when they reach a stop sign. They tend to slow right down, but at no point become stationary.
 That's not enough, according to the law. If a police officer observes such behaviour, they are entitled to issue a fine. They're not placed on the road for no reason, according to traffic police: there has to be some reason why a junction requires drivers to stop completely.
 Do you want a summary of the week's top stories sent to your inbox every Thursday? Then  sign up  for our weekly newsletter!
 Black Friday waste
 Helsingin Sanomat has a Black Friday  story  with a difference, focusing on the electronic waste Finns produce and ways that might be reduced.
 On average, each person resident in Finland produces some 22 kilograms of electronic waste each year, and the consumption peak associated with Black Friday is a good time to ponder ways to change that.
 HS reports on efforts to bring in 'right to repair' rules on an EU-wide basis, forcing manufacturers to ensure their products can be repaired and helping consumers to fix things.
 The new rules are set to be unveiled next spring, but they're described as encouraging a shift in mentality to ensure that electronics are durable, fixable, and last as long as possible.
 The details, though, are yet to be finalised. Product-specific 'ecodesign' rules have already been announced for dishwashers and fridges, while phones and tablets are next on the agenda.
 Juha Toivanen  from the Finnish Energy Authority tells HS that he expects these rules to include requirements that phone screens, batteries and covers can be changed. And that batteries should last a minimum period.
 The goal is to increase the lifespan of phones, which in Finland last just three years on average at present.
 This week's All Points North podcast featured Buy Nothing Day, an anti-consumerist reaction to Black Friday. 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.

Friday's papers: Covid fears, stop signs ignored and Black Friday waste


Summary: The plane turned back shortly after take-off.

A plane on its way from Helsinki Airport to Joensuu, Eastern Finland, ran into trouble immediately after taking off on Thursday evening and had to return to the airport. The incident took place shortly after 5pm. According to national airport operator Finavia, there was no danger to other aircraft.
 Finavia has not specified what the danger was, nor the number of passengers on the plane.
 The Rescue Department received a report of a major air traffic accident as soon as the incident occurred, and a total of 15 rescue units were sent to the scene. However the plane was able to land normally at Helsinki airport.
 The Safety Investigation Authority (Otkes) said late Thursday on Twitter that it was carrying out a preliminary investigation into the incident. According to Otkes, there were 34 people aboard the plane, but no injuries.
 False alarm of plane crash
 Tabloid paper Ilta-Sanomat reported that the aircraft was a Fokker 50 operated by Amapola Flyg. Finavia confirmed this information. Amapola is a passenger and cargo airline based in Stockholm, Sweden.
 According to Ilta-Sanomat, Amapola Flyg is owned by the venture capital firm Salénia AB. It has also operated some domestic passenger flights in Sweden since 2018 and won the tender for the Joensuu route last April.
 Finavia said that a report of a crash was erroneously sent out via alert systems.
 "There was a risk of an Amapola plane crash. The plane turned back immediately after take-off and landed normally at 5:19 pm. There was in fact no crash, but the information managed to go out into the systems," Finavia commented.
 According to the aviation website FlightRadar24, most of Amapola’s turboprop-powered Fokker planes are over 30 years old. Production of the planes ended in 1996.

Safety watchdog investigating take-off mishap at Helsinki Airport


Summary: The poll suggested that fur farms operate in an unacceptable way, according to more than two thirds of respondents.

Fur farming in Finland is not acceptable in its current form, according to 71 percent of respondents to a poll carried out for animal rights organisations.
 Women and younger people were especially opposed to the practices, with just seven percent of women and four percent of those aged 15-24 finding fur farming acceptable.
 More than a third of respondents would accept continued operation of fur farms if the animals' conditions could be significantly improved and they were able to to engage in natural behaviour.
 Just 16 percent of respondents felt that fur farming could continue in its current form without new regulations.
 Finland's fur farms made international headlines earlier this week when British paper the Mirror  reported  on a visit to a farm where Arctic foxes were kept in squalid conditions.
 The animals had damaged feet from the wire floor of their cages, were extremely obese and suffered apparent psychological distress.
 The survey was carried out by Taloustutkimus on behalf of Animalia and Right to Live, two animal rights NGOs.

Poll: Majority oppose fur farming


Summary: Communications agency Traficom says that people in Finland received 70,000 malicious messages within one day, and predicts that the number will rise.

The Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) has warned of a resurgence of scam messages spreading malicious software known as FluBot. The agency said on Friday that the malware, which has proliferated in Finland in recent days, targets users with Android devices and mobile subscriptions. The malicious software can steal data from a phone if the user clicks on a link in an SMS.
 Traficom predicts that the volume of messages will increase in the coming days.
 The agency cites reports received by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-FI) indicating that scam text messages written in Finnish have been sent to tens of thousands of people in Finland.
 Fraudsters send a variety of text messages with different wording and links. While the messages are written in Finnish, they do not include Scandinavian characters (å, ä and ö). They also include characters such as +, /, &, % and @ in illogical places in the text, which makes it more difficult for telecommunications operators to filter the messages.
 The SMS may claim that the recipient has received a voicemail message or a message from their mobile operator. All the messages urge the recipient to open the link in the message.
 Clicking on the link does not immediately install the malware, though. Users are asked to allow the installation. The malware may also steal data from the device and send more malware-spreading scam messages.
 "According to our current estimate, approximately 70,000 messages have been sent in the last 24 hours. If the current campaign is as aggressive as the one in the summer, we expect the number of messages to increase to hundreds of thousands in the coming days. There are already dozens of confirmed cases where devices have been infected," Traficom said in a statement on Friday.
 While the malware targets Android phones, texts are also sent to other devices. For example, iPhone users are directed to various fraudulent sites that phish for credit card details, among other attempts at fraud.
 Record number of e-scams this year
 Traficom says that anyone who unwittingly installs the malware should immediately carry out a factory reset of the device. When restoring from a backup, ensure that the backup was created before the infection.
 The previous wave of scam messages carrying the FluBot bug was detected in Finland last June and July. At that point, the messages claimed to notify recipients of parcel deliveries, with links to a purported tracking site. Later, fraudsters have sent messages referring to voicemail.
 Authorities have reported an upsurge in electronic fraud during the pandemic. Last week Finnish police said that online scammers have conned victims in the country out of  33 million euros  so far this year, up from last year's record of 25 million.

Finnish authorities warn of new wave of malware text messages


Summary: Broader use of Covid passes could help restaurants avoid the tightened restrictions.

The government has rubber-stamped new restrictions on bars and restaurants in the regions of the country worst-hit by the Covid pandemic.
 Establishments in regions classified as in the 'community transmission' phase of the epidemic will have to end alcohol sales at 5pm and close their doors at 6pm, unless they demand a Covid pass at all times.
 Covid passes are available to those who have been double-vaccinated or have recovered from Covid, or those who can show a recent negative test.
 Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services  Krista Kiuru  (SDP) said on Thursday that the number of Covid cases in intensive care units was rapidly approaching the level where surgery and other care would have to be severely limited.
 On Friday the health agency THL reported 44 patients in ICU units, down from 49 on Thursday evening. Health officials have said that 50-60 ICU beds are earmarked for Covid patients, but some health districts are already postponing operations requiring ICU stays due to a shortage of beds.
 The new rules come into force on Sunday, and affect most of the country with the exception of North Karelia, Savo, Central Finland, Kainuu and Lapland.

Finland restricts restaurants to slow Covid spread


Summary: The B.1.1.529 Covid variant has been found to have an unusually high number of mutations.

Finnish specialists say they are "worried" about the emergence of a new coronavirus variant with an unusually high number of mutations first detected in southern Africa.
 The variant is currently called B.1.1.529 but is likely to be given a Greek code-name by the World Health Organisation on Friday.
 Tuomas Aivelo , a postdoctoral researcher in viral ecology at the University of Helsinki, told Yle's breakfast show Yle Aamu on Friday morning that this latest variant is the most concerning development since the outbreak of the Delta variant.
 "There are a huge number of mutations in this variant than have been seen in previous variants, but now there are many within the same variant. Now these mutations appear to increase infectivity, making it more likely they will evade immune protection," Aivelo said.
 This means that the Covid vaccines currently in use may not be as effective in protecting people against the variant.
 "That is the million-dollar question," Aivelo said.
 The BBC  wrote  that one scientist described the long list of mutations linked to the new variant as "horrific", further reporting that mutations have been detected in Botswana and Hong Kong as well as in South Africa.
 On Friday Israel confirmed a case of the new variant in a traveller who returned from Malawi, along with two other suspected cases, all in people who had been vaccinated.
 "This variant did surprise us, it has a big jump on evolution [and] many more mutations that we expected," Professor  Tulio de Oliveira , the director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation in South Africa, told the BBC.
 However, a multitude of mutations does not necessarily mean that they are all highly contagious, and researchers are currently working to find out how these mutations behave.

Finnish experts worried by new variant found in southern Africa


Summary: Opposition parties had submitted a motion of no confidence in the government over the possible threat of a hybrid operation at Finland's borders.

The government of Prime Minister  Sanna Marin  (SDP) won a vote of confidence in Parliament on Friday afternoon by a margin of 91 to 66.
 The confidence motion was submitted by nearly all the opposition parties — the Finns Party, the National Coalition Party, the Christian Democrats and Movement Now — and called into question Finland's preparedness to deal with hybrid threats.
 It was prompted by the ongoing situation at Belarus' borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, where thousands of migrants have gathered in order to enter the European Union.
 According to both Finland and the EU, the mass migration is a hybrid operation orchestrated by Belarus to protest against EU sanctions.
 In the interpellation question submitted to Parliament, the opposition parties suggested that Finland could respond to the hybrid threat by suspending the acceptance of asylum applications and, if necessary, close the country's borders. The opposition said this could be achieved by placing emergency clauses in Finland's Aliens Act.
 However, the government argued during the interpellation debate that such an emergency clause would not be possible within the framework of the Finnish Constitution or EU legislation.

Government wins confidence vote on border security