Delays in Espoo’s contact tracing

On Monday 29 November 2021, the number of confirmed new infections in Espoo was 69, and on Tuesday 30 November 2021, the number was 97. Currently, the coronavirus incidence rate in Espoo is 355.5. The figure refers to the total number of coronavirus infections per 100,000 residents in Espoo over a 14-day period.

Due to the delays, as of 12 November, contact tracing has been prioritised according to the urgency classification prepared by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. We have increased the number of contact tracers in recent weeks. The next group of new tracers will start work next week.

With prioritisation, we are able to contact exposed persons who are elderly or work in health care and social welfare units with a delay of 0–1 days, as a rule. In larger clusters of infections, such as those in schools and day care centres, exposed individuals are contacted with a delay of about 3 days. In the case of other exposed persons, phone calls may be delayed by up to 11 days. They will receive initial instructions by text message. The message will include a recommendation for people living in the same household to stay at home in quarantine if they are not protected through vaccination or having had the coronavirus disease.

Decisions on quarantine and isolation are sent by post, currently with a delay of about one month.