THL recommends watching UEFA Euro 2020 at home
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) continues to take the view that all but the most essential travel, both foreign and domestic, should be avoided because of the coronavirus epidemic. This also applies to the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship which takes place in June and July this year.
Finland, which is taking part in the championship, will play its first match on 12 June against Denmark in Copenhagen. On 16 June Finland faces Russia in St. Petersburg and on 21 June Finland will play against Belgium, also in St. Petersburg.
“It is fantastic that Finland will get to play in Euro 2020. However, the coronavirus pandemic has not gone anywhere, and the same recommendations apply to Euro 2020 as they do to all travel. That is why, unfortunately, it is better to watch the championship at home”, says THL Director Mika Salminen, a confessed football fan himself.
Although the coronavirus situation has eased in Finland in recent weeks, the incidence of the disease remains high in many other countries.
In St. Petersburg, the incidence rate is currently 187 cases per 100,000 people, while in Finland it is 52. In Denmark, the incidence rate is 200 cases per 100,000 people.
“Travelling to the matches entails a significant risk of infection: even though the number of spectators has been limited, there will be thousands of spectators at the stadiums, and some of them could come from countries where the infection rate is high. With bad luck, a sport tourist returning to Finland could infect friends and family, for example”, Salminen says.
“Even someone who has been vaccinated once could get an infection and can spread the disease forward”, he adds.
Several countries restricting entry
Several countries, including Finland, are restricting entry because of the coronavirus. For example, Denmark currently requires arriving travellers to produce a certificate of a negative result of a coronavirus test that has been taken no more than 48 hours before departure. A second test must be taken within 24 hours of arrival, excluding those under the age of 12.
Russian officials have not yet revealed the conditions under which football tourists will be allowed into the country.
If someone travels to the event in spite of everything, it is worth considering that the negative test result when leaving Finland will have to be provided by a private health clinic and paid for by the person who is tested. It is also best for travellers to make sure that their travel insurance is up to date and informing the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the plans to travel in case of an emergency or crisis.
Those returning to Finland are now subject to a mandatory health check-up immediately at the border, and if the traveller does not have a certificate of a negative test, they will also need to be tested for coronavirus at the border. In addition, all people arriving in Finland must take a new test no earlier than 72 hours after arrival. The time between the tests should be spent in voluntary quarantine.
THL has recommended that all companies transporting passengers and all shipping lines should require a negative coronavirus test result of all travellers coming to Finland, including Finnish citizens.
“It is worth finding out in advance if the transport company requires a negative test result to be able to travel back, and where such a test can be taken, if needed, while abroad. It is also worth considering what would happen if a person is infected with coronavirus during the trip. “It is very important to remember not to travel while sick”, says Senior Expert Jari Jalava at THL.
Cooperation with Football Association of Finland
THL has been in contact with the Football Association of Finland concerning Euro 2020. The aim is to cooperate to ensure that those travelling to the tournament will be instructed on how to protect against the coronavirus during the trip.
In addition, travellers will be informed about testing and other practices when crossing borders.
Further information:
Travel and the coronavirus pandemic
Mika Salminen
Director
THL
tel. +358 29 524 8454
Jari Jalava (travel instructions)
Senior Expert
THL
tel. +358 29 524 6629
[email protected]
