Coronavirus instructions in different languages

Latest update: 1 March 2021

We have compiled brief coronavirus instructions and information about the effects on the city’s operations in different languages.

Brief coronavirus instructions and information

Important things to remember during the coronavirus epidemic

  • Wash your hands often. Use soap or, if necessary, hand sanitiser. 

  • Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve.

  • Do not spend time around other people if you have any symptoms.

  • Avoid crowded places and maintain safe distances (1–2 metres) from other people.

  • Avoid spending time in public areas and touching surfaces (for example escalator handrails) outside your home. Infections spread easily in places that are visited by many people.

Wear a face mask

  • ​in all leisure facilities, public transport, public spaces, public events, hobbies, shops and services 
  • in indoor sports facilities, other than during sports activities 
  • at lower secondary schools, upper secondary and higher education institutions 
  • at youth centres
  • at day-care centres when bringing and picking up children 
  • in workplaces in all encounters and when moving from one place to another. The recommendation applies to both private and public sector workplaces.

The city distributes free face masks to those who are unable to buy them. Other Espoo residents are to acquire their masks themselves.

Face masks for people of limited means are distributed at social welfare offices and organisations’ offices:

Espoon keskus

  • Hyvä Arki association, Siltakuja 3 B, Mon–Fri 9:00–13:00

  • Manna-Apu association, Tuomarilantie 19, Mon–Fri 9:00–13:00

Espoonlahti

  • Kivenkolo, Merisaapas 1 A, Mon–Fri 9:00–11:30 and 13:30–14:00

Leppävaara

  • Espoo Social Services Office, Komentajankatu 5 C, Mon–Fri 9:00–15:00

  • Raitin Pysäkki, Konstaapelinkatu 1 A, Mon–Fri 10:00–14:00

Matinkylä

  • Espoo Immigrant Services, Pyyntitie 3, Mon–Fri 9:00–15:00

  • Espoon Ankkuri, Matinkartanontie 16 B, Mon–Fri 9:00–14:00

Northern Espoo

  • Kalajärvi Service Centre, Ruskaniitty 4, Mon–Thu 13:00–15:30

Tapiola

  • EJYn Kansalaistoiminnankeskus, Kauppamiehentie 6, Mon–Fri 10:00–15:00

Limit contact with other people

  • Do not gather in large numbers – COVID-19 has spread at parties, gatherings of friends and shopping centres. Currently, private events are not recommended.

  • All public events and gatherings held indoors and outdoors are prohibited.

  • All public customer spaces are closed. This includes all municipal indoor sports facilities, cultural venues, museums and youth centres. The activities of adult education centres will be suspended.

Coronavirus testing and assessment of symptoms

COVID-19 testing is available to anyone with symptoms that suggest they may have contracted COVID-19. 

  • You can book a test for yourself in Coronabot, koronabotti.hus.fi/en. 
  • Alternatively, you can call Espoo’s COVID-19 hotline, 09 816 346 00 (Mon–Fri 7:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–15:00). At other times, call the Medical Helpline, tel. 116 117. 

Only visit a health centre if you have an appointment

The appointment booking number of Espoo’s health centres in other matters, tel. 09 816 34500 Mon–Fri 7:00–18:00. 

Download the Koronavilkku app on your phone

The app helps find people who may be infected with COVID-19. If you are diagnosed with an infection, you can report it anonymously on the app. The app also notifies you in case you have been in contact with an infected person.

Koronavilkku is safe to use. The Koronavilkku app is provided by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), and it works in Finland.

You can download the app free of charge at Koronavilkku.fi/en. The app is available in Finnish, Swedish and English. (InfoFinland.fi)

Early childhood education

Day-care centres are open. You are only allowed to go to a day-care centre if you are in good health. We ask you, guardians, to avoid staying inside the day-care centre in order to reduce exposure. Children cannot, for the time being, bring their own toys to the day-care centre. 

Please wear a mask when you bring or pick up your child.

Upper secondary education

Secondary education (upper secondary schools and vocational education institutions) will continue with distance learning arrangements. Indispensable needs for contact teaching will be met.

Libraries

Libraries offer a limited service, which includes:

  • Collecting materials from the reservation shelf. 
  • Necessary, fast transactions on client computers.
  • The preferred service method is advance booking and self-service using the automatic borrowing machine.
  • If necessary, assistance and advice is available at the service desk.
  • Wear a mask.

Leisure activities

  • The indoor and outdoor premises of the cities can only be used for guided recreational activities of children aged 12 or less. All forms of activities for children and young people must be implemented without close contacts.

Customer service

  • Espoonlahti, Leppävaara and Tapiola Service Points are closed.

  • Espoon keskus, Kalajärvi and Matinkylä Service Points remain open.

  • Handle matters remotely, if possible. 

Travel

Follow quarantine instructions

  • Follow the instructions you have received if you are waiting for a coronavirus test or your test results or have been exposed to the coronavirus. Quarantine instructions in Finnish, English and Swedish in espoo.fi/karanteeniohjeet.

  • Please note that violating a quarantine order issued by the infectious disease authority is punishable by law.

Instructions for persons placed in quarantine at home

​Further instructions for Espoo residents: www.espoo.fi/coronavirus. You can also find a smartbot on the city’s website at espoo.fi. You can ask the smartbot questions about the coronavirus in more than 100 languages. 

Other websites with information about the coronavirus and symptoms in different languages