During the year under review, we adjusted our preparedness level according to the progress of the pandemic. The Uusimaa Regional Coordination Group continued to monitor the regional pandemic situation throughout the year and issued recommendations for measures to curb the pandemic to the general public and also to local authorities and to the Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency, which took the actual decisions on restrictions.

The HUS preparedness directive sets out the management system to be used in exceptional circumstances. The directive defines three levels for preparedness at the group level. According to our preparedness directive, full preparedness is to be adopted when society at large prepares to deal with a serious disruption or with a state of emergency as defined in the Emergency Powers Act. At the beginning and at the end of the year under review, we were at the highest level of preparedness, i.e. full preparedness. 

We adjusted the HUS preparedness level several times in the course of the year according to the progress of the pandemic: 

  • Nov 23, 2020 preparedness level 3, full preparedness 
  • May 3, 2021 preparedness level 2, enhanced preparedness 
  • Jun 21, 2021 preparedness level 1 standby preparedness 
  • Nov 9, 2021 preparedness level 2, enhanced preparedness 
  • Dec 17, 2021 preparedness level 3, full preparedness 

By decisions of the CEO, the Chief Medical Officer was in charge of preparedness management throughout the year and reported to the CEO on the actions of the preparedness executives. During the year, Chief Medical Officer Markku Mäkijärvi was also substituted by Jari Petäjä and Veli-Matti Ulander.

As in the previous year, the HUS pandemic coordination group and its executive committee handled the coordination of coronavirus measures.

Regional Coordination Group issued recommendations according to the progress of the pandemic

The Uusimaa Regional Coordination Group met 50 times in the course of the year under review. In addition to representatives from HUS, the Group has representatives from local authorities in Uusimaa, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency, the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Traficom and the private sector. The meetings involved reviewing the pandemic situation in the region, determining the current status of the pandemic and issuing the required recommendations for the public at large and for local authorities and the Regional State Administrative Agency in respect of decisions on restrictions to be made.

HUS management also attended meetings of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Coronavirus Coordination Group organized by the City of Helsinki. 

Read more about coronavirus year 2021 at HUS