The Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland has decided that participant number for public indoor and outdoor events and meetings in the area of the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia is 6 (six) persons.

Public facilities

Most of the public facilities administered by the City of Kalajoki will remain closed, with the exception of indispensable services.

• Virta-Sali, Kahvila Kirja, Ventelä house, museums and exhibition facilities, and the City Hall will remain closed until 25 April 2021.
• The libraries will be open for quick transactions.
  • All persons using the library services are required to wear a face mask.
  • High-risk groups are offered an option of using a book bag pick-up service.
  • Opening hours will be restricted as follows until 25 April 2021:
    • Main Library: Mon and Thu 10:00-20:00, Tue, Wed and Fri 10:00-16:00, Sat closed
    • Himanka: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 12:00-19:00, Fri 11:00-16:00, Sat closed
• No events will be held at the library until 25 April 2021.
• The mobile library will continue its operations. Only one customer is allowed inside at a time.
• The spa will stay open under special arrangements. The number of people allowed inside and their swimming time are limited. Customers are recommended to use a face mask in the spa hallways and dressing rooms. The spa provides more information about these special arrangements.
• We recommend that private operators will close their public spaces, e.g. common spaces of shopping malls.

Group hobby activities

• The group hobby activities of children and people under 18 are allowed to continue. Teams and established groups are allowed to train and practice together as long as participants and their parents can keep the recommended distance to each other as adviced by the Finnish institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
• Matches, competitions, tournaments and shows are not organised for the time being. Physical education must take place outdoors or on school premises. Local groups are recommended to not travel to other regions in order to participate in events, matches, competitions, etc.
• Group activity organisers must observe the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and ensure that the participants and those accompanying them avoid close contact with each other.
• In order to ensure compliance with the guidelines provided, the activity time slots are subject to change. For further information on reservations, protective measures and special arrangements, please contact Development and Coaching Head Juha Isolehto juha.isolehto@kalajoki.fi
• Group hobby activities of persons 18 and older remain suspended. Group hobby activities can be organised remotely, if possible. Where possible, special training arrangements are made for competitive and top-level athletes. Matches and competitions for licensed athletes organised by sport associations require a separate agreement. To organise matches and competitions for licensed athletes, please contact Development and Coaching Head Juha Isolehto. juha.isolehto@kalajoki.fi
• Open youth centre activities will be closed until 25 April 2021. Group activities will continue with a maximum group size of six (6) people. All participants must wear a face mask.
• Matriculation examination will be held in Merenoja Sports Hall from 15th of March until 31st of March. Sports hall cannot be used for any other purposes during this time and all the reservations are canceled. If you need an alternative space for your reservation, please contact juha.juola@kalajoki.fi.

Senior citizens and high-risk groups

Visits to care institutions should be considered and must always be arranged in advance with the staff. Make sure that you are fully healthy before visiting a care institution. The measures comply with the instructions of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). When visiting care units one should wear mask and take care of hygiene.

Teaching arrangements

• The first and second grade students of the upper secondary school will continue their studies in contact teaching taking in consideration the safety distances and mask recommendations.
• The loose arrangement of comprehensive education will be continued until 25 April 2021.
  Adult Education Centre courses will not continue this spring.
• Private training of children and young people at the Music School and the Adult Education Centre will continue normally.
• Only one family is allowed to the corridor of early childhood education and care units. Only one guardian is allowed to go inside. The guardian should be symptomless and wear a mask. When bringing in and picking up children one must take safety distances in consideration.
• When bringing in and picking up children from daycare it is recommended to spend as little time as possible in the premises and area. The guardians can hand out their children to the unit and the personnel will help the children with taking off their outerwear.

Remote work and remote meeting practices

All employees must work remotely insofar as possible. Remote meeting policies will continue to be applied as extensively as possible both at workplaces and for leisure meetings.

Mask recommendations (for people over 12 years old)

• At all times in public transport and other public means of transport (such as cabs)
• On your way to coronavirus testing, and if you must leave your home while waiting for the test results
• Those arriving in Finland from a high-risk region when moving from the entry location to voluntary quarantine, or if they have an essential reason to leave home during voluntary quarantine
• Health care personnel in all patient work. The recommendation also applies to patients, family members, students and visitors.
• At all times in public indoor spaces and at public events, including schools and educational institutions from the upper comprehensive school upwards
• At the facilities of private service providers (stores, banks, etc.)
• Comprehensive school students from the 7th grade upwards and students of secondary and higher education institutions (including upper secondary schools)
• At all indoor workplaces where masks can be worn.
• Parents should wear a mask when bringing in and picking up their children from daycare units and hobbies.

Private events

• We recommend that private events are not held during this time. If an event is organised, it is recommended to limit the participants to 6 people.
• Whenever possible hold distance meetings.
• When having private events, remember safety distances, wearing masks and other hygiene recommendations to prevent the corona virus from spreading.

Restaurants

In compliance with the Government guidelines. The parliament has decided that restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses must be closed to customers until 18 April 2021 in areas where it is necessary to stop the acceleration of the epidemic. This includes Kalajoki and Northern Ostrobothnia. The restriction also affects outdoor terraces.

Only restaurants that are not open to the public are exempt from the closures. It therefore does not affect canteens in residential homes for older people or staff restaurants that are not open to other customers, for example.

During the closure, restaurants and cafes will still be allowed to sell portions directly to the customer for takeaway or deliver them either themselves or using other service providers. (Restaurant restrictions updated 9.3.21)

Readiness Management Group
City of Kalajoki