Two Chinese tourists suspected of carrying coronavirus quarantined in Lapland

It is still early to say for sure, but the coronavirus may have arrived in Finland by the means predicted by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL): tourism and international travel.

As reported by the Finnish broadcasting company, two Chinese tourists from Wuhan (the 11 the city of 11 million inhabitants where the outbreak of coronavirus began) have been quarantined in Ivalo (Lapland) after going to a health center to request treatment against a flu-like infection.

The patients are members of a Chinese family arrived in Finland from Wuhan via Norway. They have been travelling in Lapland for several days.

Markku Broas, a physician at Lapland central hospital, told Yle that on Friday morning health professionals took samples from the patients, which were sent to a laboratory in Helsinki for analysis.

Results of Friday evening

This expert, however, lowered the alert and pointed out that it could be a simple case of flu. He also added that the patients are in good condition, though they will remain in quarantine until the results of the tests are known.

Common symptoms of coronavirus infection include cough, fever, and breath difficulties. 

According to Mika Salminen, director of the security unit of the THL, the initial results would be ready on Friday afternoon or early evening. 

So far, more than 880 people have been infected with the disease in China and in other countries and at least 26 had died, said Chinese authorities.

In addition, China has just closed transportation in Wuhan -the epicenter of the crisis- and another dozen cities in its surroundings. And they announced that a new hospital will be built in Wuhan in just 10 days, where treatment of the sick will be centralized.