Is there anywhere safer from Covid-19 than Finnish Lapland?

Here at The Aurora Zone, we send more people to Finland than any other destination. Unsurprisingly, we were absolutely delighted when the announcement came last week that the country is reopening its borders to fully vaccinated travellers.

We immediately booked five seats on Finnair flights to Ivalo and will be heading north in search of the Northern Lights in mid-September. We can’t wait. After so long without travelling abroad it will feel like freedom and, unlike many other destinations, we will head to Finland with absolutely no Covid worries.

IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL TO FINLAND?

Naturally, a lot of people are understandably reticent about travelling in the post-Covid era. However, with a bit of investigation, it transpires that you are far, far more likely to contract the dreaded lurgy at home than you are in the wilds of Northern Finland.

Even better, if you really do want to come home at the end of your holiday, there will be no need to quarantine when you do. Finland is on the UK’s Amber List and the chances of it moving to red are minuscule.

Here’s why:

• Finland has been widely applauded for its handling of the pandemic.
• Cases have remained very low even at the height of the pandemic; this is particularly the case in Northern Finland where our holidays take place.
• The vaccination programme in Finnish Lapland is very advanced and continues apace.
• Finnish Lapland is sparsely populated with roughly one person per square kilometre; indeed, the human population is outnumbered by reindeer!
• Finnish Lapland’s wide-open spaces are pristine and pure; the air is the cleanest in Europe.
• Our holidays are based in smaller, locally owned accommodations so you won’t be vying for space with thousands of other visitors.
• The same applies to our activities, all of which take place in the vast open-air wilderness of Finnish Lapland. It really doesn’t get much fresher or cleaner.

IS IT SAFE TO FLY?

Lastly, if the thought of getting on a plane bothers you then Finnair has taken every measure possible to ensure your safety on board. This includes cleansing procedures and processes should a passenger display Covid symptoms either before or during a flight.

Most importantly, however, is that Finnair’s aircraft are fitted with High-Efficiency-Particulate Arrestors (HEPA) filters. These filters capture 99.99% of bacteria and viruses. Essentially, this is the standard set in the very best of hospital operating theatres.

Covid has affected us all to some extent over the past 18 months, but it is time to start living our lives and travelling again. It still makes a lot of sense to visit destinations where you are least likely to contract the virus and Finland is right at the top of the list in that respect.

Indeed, visiting Finland is certainly safer than staying at home. I’ve been sorely tempted for years to move there and having researched and written this blog, that temptation is tugging even more fiercely than ever before.