Do this if you suspect coronavirus infection
Usually you can treat a coronavirus infection (COVID-19) at home in accordance with the symptoms, like other sudden respiratory infections. In the event of severe symptoms such as shortness of breath or a deterioration in your general condition – or if you belong to the severe coronavirus infection risk group – contact your health care provider.
Ill at home
If you fall ill, we recommend you stay at home until the symptoms have clearly declined and you no longer have a fever. Generally three to five days are required. If you must leave your home while ill, you can use a mask if you wish.
A child can go to school or the daycare centre when the symptoms have clearly declined, there is no longer a fever, and the child’s general condition has improved so s/he can participate in instruction or early childhood education.
Read more: Instructions for those who have a respiratory infection (in Finnish)
If you have a serious illness or medication that predisposes you to coronavirus infection, follow the instructions of your attending physician or ask the health centre or your own attending physician for more information to start, for example, antiviral medication.
Read more: Paxlovid medication
If you have been exposed to the coronavirus
Persons who are symptom-free need not take a coronavirus sample. You can continue your daily life and act the same way as you would if you had been exposed to some other respiratory infection such as influenza. This means that it is all right to go to work, school, a daycare centre and take part in hobbies and activities, for instance, even if there a coronavirus infection in your family.
If you get symptoms after exposure, read the instructions under “Ill at home”.
COVID-19 testing
Testing in healthcare is recommended only for a limited target group, such as those at risk of severe COVID-19 disease. If you are at risk of severe COVID-19 infection and suspect you have coronavirus infection, contact your own health centre, occupational health or, in case of severe symptoms, the emergency department.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus disease
Do an assessment in the Omaolo.fi service, which provides you with instructions on the basis of your symptoms. You can do an Omaolo symptom assessment anytime, as long as you are able to strongly identify yourself by, e.g. bank identification codes.
If you have symptoms of a respiratory tract infection, please fill out one of the following symptom assessments first:
Cough (omaolo.fi)
Painful or blocked ear (omaolo.fi)
Sore throat or throat symptom (omaolo.fi)
Respiratory tract infection (omaolo.fi)
The professional gets in touch with you by phone if needed, or you will get written instructions via the Omaolo service. The professional will, if required, also arrange an appointment for a coronavirus test. The professionals handle assessments of symptoms on weekdays 8:00–15:00.
You can also take care of matters on behalf of children under 15 years of age. In its service, Omaolo informs on whose behalf the client is doing business at any given moment. Those over 10 years of age but under 18 receive information about the coronavirus test results at the phone number the person acting on their behalf has provided in Omaolo.
Alternatively, you can contact the health centre in your own community or your own health care provider. During the weekend, contact the joint emergency services.
You will find your community’s contact channels for coronavirus vaccinations and for dealing with the health centre below.
Coronavirus vaccinations in Southwest Finland
Important phone numbers of the healthcare and social welfare services