Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and National Institute for Health and Welfare
Information on coronavirus sent to every household

The distribution of a letter with information on coronavirus has begun. The letter should reach every household in Finland by 9 April 2020 at the latest. The purpose of the letter is to provide every citizen with information on coronavirus and ways to avoid getting the virus.

“By sending a letter to every household, we can provide reliable information on coronavirus and ways to prevent its spread. It also reaches those in Finland who do not search information online or follow news broadcasts,” says Riikka Nurmi, Director of Communications.

“Although there is a lot of talk about coronavirus, the need for reliable information is on the increase. In the letter, we explain how you can protect yourself from getting coronavirus and how to act in case you get infected. In addition, the letter includes advice for people over 70 years of age because for them getting coronavirus may be a bigger risk.

The letter consists of a covering letter and three sets of instructions:

• Protect yourself and others from infection
• If you get infected or are at home taking care of a person who has contracted coronavirus
• Advice for people over 70 years of age

The letter provides the same information both in Finnish and Swedish. In the Sámi region, the instructions are also provided in the Sámi languages.

In addition to Finnish and Swedish, the information package will be available in 16 different languages on the website of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (thl.fi/koronainfo). The website will also provide access to a video in the Finnish and the Finnish-Swedish sign languages.

On 12 March, the Government decided to send an information package to all households in Finland as part of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus. The package was put together by the National Institute for Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Inquiries:

Riikka Nurmi, Director of Communications, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health [email protected]