Corona situation and masks in Karelia campuses
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) updated their recommendations for the use of face masks in week 15. Consequently, the recommendation to use face masks on Karelia UAS campuses is no longer valid. However, face masks will still be provided for everyone who wishes to wear one. Face masks are available at info desks.
Please continue to follow other hygiene instructions on campuses: you may not enter Karelia UAS campuses if you have any symptoms and remember to take good care of hand hygiene.
You are not allowed to enter Karelia UAS premises if you are sick
You are not allowed to enter Karelia UAS premises if you are sick or have any symptoms of a coronavirus infection. If any symptoms occur, it is your responsibility as a member of the higher education community to become tested for the coronavirus without delay. Employees can use their working hours to get to the test. Follow the instructions you are given as you are tested. If the test result is positive, i.e. you have a coronavirus infection, or if you have been quarantined, you must immediately notify Karelia UAS by emailing to turvallisuus@karelia.fi and either phone or email to your supervisor (employees) or teacher tutor (students). Anyone who is experiencing symptoms or suspects exposure can fill out an assessment of their health at omaolo.fi website. The coronavirus website of Siun sote has regional instructions on how to proceed.
Student health care
You can book a student health care request via electronic appointment.
Hand and coughing hygiene
Each member of the community shall maintain good hand hygiene. Careful and frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizer is important. Everyone shall immediately wash and sanitize their hands when entering campus premises, when moving from a space or classroom to another, and otherwise as necessary. Hand washing facilities are available in campus toilets and hand sanitizers are located in hallways, student restaurants and other common areas. A disposable tissue shall be used to cover the mouth and the nose when coughing or sneezing, and the tissue shall be disposed immediately. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not into your hands.
More information is available on the website of THL.
High-risk groups
Students belonging to high-risk groups shall inform their teacher tutor or student counsellor as well as the teachers of specific courses of their absence. A certificate from health care providers needs to be presented, if so required. The aim is to ensure fluent cooperation between teachers and students for organising the studies in such a way that there is no risk of exposure.
Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces
Cleaning has been enhanced at Karelia UAS. However, even efficient cleaning alone is not enough for keeping all surfaces clean in the everyday life of a school community. Therefore, it is recommended to disinfect the surfaces after each use (such as public computers on campuses). There are disinfection wipes available for this purpose in Karelia UAS facilities. Every user is responsible for wiping the surfaces before and after each use.
More information
Emergency services: tel. 116 117 (24h)
Health care centres: Siilainen tel. (013) 330 2211, Rantakylä tel. (013) 330 2212, Niinivaara tel. (013) 330 2213
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare: https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates
- Ministry for Foreign Affairs: https://um.fi/matkustustiedotteet
- WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- Ministry for Social Affairs and Health: https://stm.fi/en/frontpage
- Siun Sote: https://www.siunsote.fi/corona/en
- Joensuu https://www.joensuu.fi/en/web/english/-/information-on-the-coronavirus
National hotline 0295 535 535 provides general information on the coronavirus on weekdays at 8 am-9 pm and on Saturdays at 9 am – 3 pm. No individual health counselling or counselling for acute symptoms is provided by the hotline.