Finland is starting to make a turnaround with the restrictions. Yesterday (Wed) it was announced that the school closures will end on May 14th (the date originally given as the end date when the closure was started in March) for the Comprehensive School (school years 1-9). As the spring term ends in end of May, there will be only a couple of weeks of school. For our family this would not have been necessary, but there is concern over children who have trouble following the distance teaching and / or living in troubled homes. Reports to Child Protection Services have plummeted during the isolation time, not because everyone is suddenly doing better but because no outsiders get to see what happens behind the closed doors in some homes. So some school before the summer holiday (10 weeks) starts is good to check on the kids and probably also to help teachers plan support classes for early next year when school starts again in August.
The restrictions will be loosened "gradually and in a controlled fashion" so we don't know yet what other changes there may be. Also the schools are supposed to be arranged in such a way as to make sure distancing can still be observed. However I don't think that's likely to work, there's not enough room in many school buildings as it is. Or the teaching hours will be cut a lot and half of the kids will go in the morning and the other half in the afternoon.
We have managed to flatten the curve quite well. The total number of confirmed cases is just under 5000 with 211 deaths. The numbers of people in hospital and intensive care have been going down for over a week now. So far it seems to work, of course time will tell what happens when we try to go back to normal.
Today is Vappu, the First of May (and the eve is the main event as for some reason the case seems to be in Finland). There was a lot of concern over whether people will stay in, but so far it looks like people are being really good. Almost no large gatherings have been detected. The limit on gatherings is 10 people, and in some of the most popular parks there have been some dozens of people, but not thousands as the case would normally be. The 1st is traditionally a picnic day, let's hope the quiet behaviour keeps up!
No other news on the loosening of requirements have yet been given. The ban on large gatherings (rock festivals and such) i.e. over 500 people was extended until end of July recently, but no timetable as to the 10 person limit, which effects closures of e.g. cinemas, theaters, museums and libraries, is available yet. We haven't had ordered closures of businesses except for restaurants, bars and cafes, and that is in force still (until end June I think), only takeaway is allowed. Most small businesses such as hairdressers etc. have obviously taken a heavy hit, although I haven't been keeping tabs to see if they are mostly closed or mostly open.
Currently I'm more worried about Africa and the US, and of course the potential second and subsequent waves. Time will tell. It's not the end of the world, but it is an apocalypse rehearsal. Hopefully next time (and the next time WILL come) we will be better prepared!
