• THL says Finland is on the threshold of a coronavirus epidemic.
  
• The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Finland stands at 155 (as of 11am on 13.3).
• Government instructs organisers to cancel events of more than 500 people
• Two employees at the Helsinki University Hospital district has tested positive for coronavirus.

13.3 16:48 Finnish military member has coronavirus

For the first time since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, the Finnish Defence Forces announced on Friday that a member of the armed forces had tested positive for the illness.

The agency said a handful of people had been in contact with the infected individual, including one conscript, according to current available information.

13.3 16:40 Veikkaus games shutting down temporarily

Finland's gambling monopoly firm Veikkaus announced that it will shut down all of its betting machines and close all of its outlets across the country until the end of March, in an effort to reduce the spread of novel coronavirus.

The firm's betting machines mostly feature touch screens and can be found in nearly every supermarket, bar and kiosk in the country. As of September, the firm had around 21,500 slot machines around the country.

Veikkaus said it was also cancelling all planned customer events for the time being, and that the break would not lead to layoffs at the company.

13.3 16:21 HUS raises bar for coronavirus testing

The Helsinki University Hospital district (HUS) announced Friday afternoon it was tightening criteria for carrying out novel coronavirus tests.

The hospital recommended that people suffering from respiratory tract illness symptoms but who are otherwise in good condition should stay at home for a week - and not call emergency services.

However, HUS said it would continue to test patients who require hospitalisation and those who have pneumonia. The facility will also test symptomatic health care workers, senior citizens and symptomatic individuals who are quarantined, according to the hospital.

13.3 12:15 Trains quieter than usual

Finland’s state railway firm VR said that passenger numbers on Friday were well down on normal numbers for both local and long-distance services.

"This is probably down to the coronavirus news and people favouring remote working," said VR communications director Tatu Tuominen. "It’s also the start of the weekend, but of course the general situation also affects this."

VR did not have precise figures on Friday’s situation, but according to Tuominen trains are quieter than normal across the country.

VR has not yet cancelled any services, but has not decided on any possible changes in the coming weeks.

"Next week will provide an indication of how sustained the reduction in passengers is," said Tuominen. "Trains are cleaned every day and staff have face masks available as well as gloves to protect them from coronavirus."

13.3 11:41 Coronavirus cases mapped

The number of cases is on the rise, and it can be difficult to keep track. Tampere-based software developer Lovell D'Souza has created this map to keep track of the number and location of new cases.

13.3 10:48 THL: Finland close to epidemic threshold, 155 cases confirmed

At a press conference this morning THL announced that there are now 155 confirmed cases in Finland, and that the country is approaching the threshold to define the outbreak as an epidemic.

13.3 10:30 HUS nurse tests positive

A nurse employed at the Helsinki University Hospital district (HUS) has tested positive for novel coronavirus, the hospital announced on Friday morning.

The nurse, who works at the hospital’s youth psychiatric unit, had returned to Finland from Tirol, Austria on 1 March. Since Finland’s health agency THL only classified the Tirol area as a coronavirus epidemic region on 9 March - more than a week later - the nurse did not think an infection was possible.

However, the nurse was on the job for three days, due to mostly being on sick leave since returning from the trip. Some 33 HUS staff members from the youth psychiatry unit who may have been exposed to the virus are now in home quarantine.

13.3 10:03 Pekonen defends school closure policy

The Minister for Social Affairs and Health, Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, appeared on Yle’s breakfast television show this morning. Among other things she answered the criticism that Finland should have closed schools and daycare centres, as some other countries have done to try and slow down the spread of the virus.

Finland on Thursday banned events for more than 500 people, but stopped short of stricter measures.

"Schools and daycare centres are different from big gatherings because in schools kids are in their own classes and in daycare centres their own groups," said Pekonen.

"Of course according to the guidelines big events should not be organised by schools."

She said that the government and all parliamentary parties were ready to enact tighter controls if the situation demands it.

13.3 9:33 Papers on stockpiling

Today's paper review is once again dominated by the coronavirus outbreak, with stories about the government reaction, stockpiling in shops and the possible cancellation of Euro2020.

You can read the review here.

12.3 23:05 Niinistö: Flattening of the curve 'extremely important'

President Sauli Niinistö said in an Yle interview that the coronavirus outbreak was unprecedented for Finland.

"This is something that we haven’t experienced before," said Niinistö. "It affects individuals, families, communities and the whole society. Our habits will change and I think that a lot of our ways of thinking will change too."

Niinistö stressed that Finns should support each other during the outbreak, and 'see beyond their own navels'.

He also said he was confident the Finnish healthcare system was high quality, but could come under strain in the coming days and weeks.

´"But if the number of infections gets really huge, there will of course be question marks," said the president. "That’s why the much talked-about flattening is extremely important. It’s really clear that the total number will rise considerably, but it’s a different question as to whether the curve is explosive growth or a gentler trajectory."

12.3 21:07 How do gig workers manage self-isolation?

Wrapping up the blog for today, but we'll leave you with some listening material. This week's All Points North podcast takes a look at how gig workers might handle the social distancing that experts think is required to fight coronavirus. How do people decide between getting well and getting paid?

You can listen to the full podcast via this embedded player, Yle Areena, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your normal podcast player using the RSS feed.

Story continues after audio.

12.3 21:05 Cancellations roll in

We've put together a far-from exhaustive list of the cancellations and changes to events in light of the government's announcement that large gatherings should be cancelled. You can check out that roundup here.

12.3 16:57 Government announces new measures to fight coronavirus

At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Finland's government recommended that organisers of large events cancel them in an effort to fight the spread of novel coronavirus.

Any event with more than 500 people should be cancelled, and organisers of smaller events have been urged to consider scrapping those as well, according to Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

"Citizens should monitor and comply with travel advisories and must file travel notifications if they must travel. Additionally, major events will be cancelled and of course in their own daily lives, people would do well to especially consider others belonging to risk groups and non-essential activities should also be avoided -- such as hobbies for example," Marin declared.

12.3 16:46 Forssa middle school closes due to coronavirus exposure

On Wednesday morning Forssa middle school was closed after a student's father tested positive for the coronavirus.

The child had attended classes at the beginning of the week and come into close contact with about 50 people, many of whom are staff members. The school made the decision to close for 14 days and all of those who had come in contact with the child were placed under home quarantine.

”There’s no need for panic, but the coronavirus and its spread should be taken very seriously,” said regional medical director Sally Järvelä in a press release.

12.3 14:08 Finland's confirmed coronavirus cases reach 109

The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Finland has reached 109, according to a mid-afternoon announcement by the Institute for National Health and Welfare on Thursday.

The health watchdog said there had been an increase of 50 new confirmed cases around the country. The majority of the new cases were in the capital region as well as in northern Ostrobothnia, in western Finland.

12.3 13:41 Foreign ministry advises against all travel abroad

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Thursday advised against all travel abroad. The ministry said the risk of contracting novel coronavirus has increased in Europe and around the world.

The ministry said, going forward, it would not issue country-specific travel advisories anymore, saying that people should be exercising caution everywhere they go.

As the coronavirus situation is changing rapidly, it is likely that more countries will begin implementing travel or entry bans and restrictions. For example, some nations in which Finnish citizens could previously enter without visas are now requiring them, according to the ministry.

12.3 12:15 Doctors cancel Tampere meeting

A doctors' conference in Tampere, which was set to host 3,000 physicians from all over Finland, has been cancelled.

Organisers had asked for guidance from the authorities on whether or not to go ahead, given the implications of being forced to quarantine a large chunk of Finland's doctors.

Yle's story (in Finnish) is here.

12.3 12:05 THL to stop classifying regions as 'epidemic areas'

Finland is to stop classifying countries and regions as coronavirus 'epidemic areas'.

The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said in a statement that the virus was now so widespread that the chance to catch it was elevated in many countries in Europe and the United States.

Mika Salminen of THL was quoted as saying that Finland would still conduct contact tracing and try to break chains of infection, epecially in areas of the country that had been untouched by the outbreak.

12.3 11:39 Terveystalo announces €195 tests

Private healthcare firm Terveystalo have announced they will offer testing for coronavirus, at a cost of 195 euros per test. The company plans to offer outdoor, drive-in testing locations.

The fee for the test is not eligible for any contribution from Kela, Finland's social insurance institution, which normally funds some of the cost of medicines.

The full Yle story (in Finnish) is here.

12.3 11:20 Healthcare worker tests positive

A worker at the Helsinki University Hospital District has tested positive for coronavirus. More on that story here.

12.3 10:35 Trump travel ban reaction

We've published a story on the US travel ban announced overnight, which is being updated. For now we have some reaction on the economic implications.

New York-based financial analyst Tero Kuittinen told Yle that Trump’s decision to allow flights to and from the US to the UK but not continental Europe had "no logical explanation."

Read the story here.

12.3 9:10 Trump travel ban and Finland response

Today's paper review has a look at the media response to Finland's decision to delay introducing social distancing measures.

"Within a week at the latest Finland will move to an emergency situation for the first time since the second world war," argues one column.

Read the review here.

12.3 7:32 Marin says 'listen to the experts'

Overnight US President Donald Trump announced a ban on travel from EU countries in the Schengen area (including Finland) to the United States, arguing that they 'had not done enough' to fight coronavirus.

Meanwhile two more cases were added to the total since our last update, bringing the number to 65.

Last night Prime Minister Sanna Marin appeared on Yle's A-Studio programme and defended the government's response. She said it was not yet time to start extensive social distancing measures.

"We are acting on the basis of the health authorities' recommendations," said Marin. "If the THL recommends for example that we limit large gatherings, of course I believe that the government would quickly be ready to do that."

11.3 21:27 Teachers and health and social care workers to stay home

Wrapping up the blog for today with an update on the numbers: 23 new cases were confirmed on Wednesday. That leaves the total at 63, a rise of more than 50 percent in one day.

In other news, teachers have been advised to stay away from work for a week on their return from areas where the epidemic is raging. Social and healthcare workers are subject to the same restrictions.

11.3 20:54 No plans to cancel events

Finland has not cancelled large events because the measure could be ineffective unless accompanied by other restrictions, according to the Ministry for Health and Social Affairs.

Yle reports (in Finnish) that the ministry's senior official Kirsi Varhila says that the effect of cancelling large gatherings is 'really small' on its own.

It would only be effective if accompanied by multiple other restrictions on daily life, according to Varhila, but that would have severe drawbacks.

"Then you could stop the functioning of the whole society," warned Varhila.

11.3 18:36 Finland's airport operator plans layoffs due to virus

Finnish airports operator Finavia announced on Wednesday that it will temporarily layoff staff as the spreading novel coronavirus outbreak continues to reduce the number of people travelling by air. The authority noted that the number of flights using the Helsinki-Vantaa airport as well as other airfields has fallen significantly.

11.3 18:21 Finland's confirmed novel coronavirus infections reach 61

At least 21 new novel coronavirus infections were confirmed in Finland during Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the National Institute for Health and Welfare announced 19 confirmed infections, and later on reported that two more patients in the western region of Satakunta had the illness.

The update brought the total number of confirmed infections in Finland early Wednesday evening to 61.

11.3 17:33 Baltic Sea cruise firms feel pinch

As a result of the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak, Finnish ferry firm Viking Line said it was revising its financial outlook for the year. The company's competitors also noted at least a slight decrease in reservations due to passenger concerns about the coronavirus situation.

11.3 13:17 One more case in Lappeenranta

One more confirmed case was reported by Yle's local office in Lappeenranta, in the south-east of Finland. That brings the total to 59.

11.3 12.58 Ports running low on shipping containers

Finland’s largest port operators say they are running out of shipping containers, as many have been stuck in China following a widespread work stoppage caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Officials at the Hamina-Kotka harbour said that they have been experiencing difficulty acquiring empty containers because outbound containers have not returned from China. The waters off China are now said to be crowded with container ships that have not been able to dock and offload their cargo.

China is a major player in global shipping and container traffic, so the work stoppage there has effectively shut down container movement in many parts of the world.

"We know that in the weeks ahead the capacity shortfall will be dozens of percentage points. Possibly half of the ships that [normally] leave Europe for China will not set sail at all," Hamina-Kotka harbour CEO Kimmo Naski said.

The Port of Helsinki also reported a decline in traffic. However officials there were unable to say how much of the downturn was due to the outbreak, and added that business is usually slow at the beginning of the year.

Meanwhile the container shortage did not appear to have affected the Vuosaari harbour, which is the focal point of container traffic in Helsinki.

11.3. 12.30 Confirmed number of cases rise by at least 18

Finland confirmed at least 18 new novel coronavirus infections (in Finnish) on Wednesday. Eleven of the cases were reported in the Uusimaa region in southern Finland, while three came from the Tampere region, one from central Finland, one was diagnosed in Kanta-Häme in the south and another in Southwest Finland.

Six of the new cases confirmed in the Uusimaa region were adult women, four were adult men and one was a child. All of the patients were sent home after providing samples for testing.

In the city of Forssa in Kanta-Häme, an adult man who tested positive for the disease had been exposed to an infected person at the Wahre community college. The man had also previously travelled to an outbreak area in Austria and returned on 1 March. Three persons who had come into close contact with him have been ordered into quarantine.

Another case confirmed in South Karelia reportedly caught the infection in the Helsinki region, according to the South Karelia hospital district.

11.3 9:37 Some takeaways from novel coronavirus press coverage

In our review of the morning's newspaper press in Finland, there are reports that Finnish health authorities are in the process of ordering novel coronavirus test kits that can give faster results than the current laboratory tests being used, and that the Prime Minister video conferenced Tuesday with other EU leaders about the situation. Also, newspaper editorial opinion that an expected downswing in tourism in Lapland might have an upside.

11.3 7:25 Cruise industry impact

The global cruise industry is heavily impacted by the novel coronavirus after several outbreaks on cruises in different countries. Finland could feel the economic chill from that, with a major shipyard in Turku reliant on orders from the cruise industry. Our story looks at the possible impact.

11.3 7:15 Confirmation class in quarantine

Overnight Aamulehti reported that a confirmation class in Kangasala, near Tampere, has been placed in quarantine until 21 March. The paper reports that some of these youths could be the same children already in quarantine after a case at the town's Pitkäjärvi school.

Meanwhile Yle published a story featuring quotes from Markku Broas, Chief Physician in Infectious Diseases at Lapland Central Hospital, reminding people they should not go to work with even mild cold symptoms if they work in care homes or hospitals.

"So if a person who works with the elderly in a care home, a hospital, or offers social care at home, has a mild cold, then they should not come to work," said Broas. "They should either stay away from work via self-certified sick leave or with a sick note from their occupational health provider."

10.3 19:18 Signing off for the night

Yle News is wrapping up Tuesday's novel coronavirus coverage in this blog, but it will be updated in the morning.

10.3 17:56 Foreign min announces €1m pledge to WHO

Finland's foreign ministry announced on Tuesday afternoon it will contribute one million euros to the World Health Organization (WHO) for its work in developing countries to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The ministry said the WHO will be making available expert and material assistance to countries with a poor capacity to fight the epidemic, in particular.

"The aim is to slow down the spread of the virus to developing countries and to help states with weaker health systems in detecting the virus, investigating cases, and treating and isolating patients. Investment in strengthening preparedness will have a longer-term impact in that it will also help prevent other communicable diseases," the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari said in a ministry release.

10.3 14:25 Finnair cancels more flights

Finland's state-owned airline Finnair has announced further cuts to capacity on its European routes.

The company is cancelling flights to Bologna, Italy; Stuttgart, Germany; Split, Croatia; Umeå, Sweden; and Venice, Italy from 29 March to 30 April.

Domestic services to Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kokkola and Kemi will be shut down for the month of April. You can read more on this story here.

10.3 13:51 Foreign Ministry updates travel advice

The Foreign Ministry has updated its travel advice for Austria and Germany. The new advice is to avoid unnecesary travel to North-Rhine Westphalia and the Tyrol region of Austria.

That's in addition to the whole of Italy, which has been declared an epidemic area by the THL.

10.3 13:20 Finnish parents urged to avoid taking sniffly kids to see grandparents

Finnish parents are being advised to avoid asking grandparents to look after children with a cold, in an effort to stem the spread of novel coronavirus.

As of Tuesday morning there were a total of 40 coronavirus infections in Finland, with ten new infections confirmed overnight.

Thirty of these cases have been linked to travel, with ten cases of onward infection occurring in Finland.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said that asking older people to look after young children is not a good idea.

"Generally, to protect the elderly and other at-risk groups from viral infections, it's a good principle to follow," said Mika Salminen of the THL. "It's especially important when we're threatened by coronavirus."